Boko Haram: Wanted Journalist Arrives Nigeria, Detained

ABUJA—Ahmed Salkida, one of the three people declared wanted by the Nigerian Army for allegedly aiding the release of a Boko Haram video showcasing the missing Chibok girls, arrived the country last night.

He was reportedly taken into custody by the police, who, however, kept mute over the development.

The Nigerian Army also denied knowledge of the arrival and detention of Salkida, described as a close associate of the Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf. Salkida was reportedly arrested, yesterday, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as he stepped down from an Emirate flight marked EK 785. One of the female passengers, who sat next to the journalist, told journalists that she recognised Salkida, who was a bit nervous all through the flight. She said she recognized the journalist from photos posted on the Internet and engaged him in conversation throughout the seven-hour flight. She said Salkida told her that he expected to be arrested upon arrival because he was travelling with an Emergency Travel Certificate, ETC, and that the DSS was aware of his coming.

He expressed fear that he would not be given a fair trial and accused the government of pronouncing him guilty without trial. Salkida further told the passenger that he did not know the whereabouts of Boko Haram leaders or Chibok girls. However, he admitted to receiving two video clips from Boko Haram before they were released to the public. He said Boko Haram had confidence in his objectivity as an investigative journalist, having previously interviewed Mohammed Yusuf, the founding leader of Boko Haram. Salkida had expressed surprise that the army declared him wanted since they knew how to reach him if they wanted him. The man was declared wanted alongside Aisha Wakil and Ahmed Bolori penultimate week by the Nigerian army, which accused them of engaging in acts of terrorism for being accessory to the release of the Chibok girls video. But the trio have expressed surprise over the action of the military, saying that they knew how to reach them without declaring them wanted as common criminals and exposing them to opium.