A very courageous Nigerian journalist who was
recently accused of working for Boko Haram fled
to Dubai after SSS mistaken him as part of the
dreaded sect.
Known as the only reporter in Nigeria with
exclusive access to Boko Haram, the Nigerian
Federal Government has sponsored him back to
Nigeria to help them in negotiating with the
terrorists for the release of the abducted Chibok
secondary school students.
Ahmad Salkida returned home recently after the
Nigerian Federal Government assured safety for
himself and his family members.
He took to his Twitter page few hours ago to say:
“Speculations should not becloud d fact that
there r many well meaning patriots including
myself that r working quietly day & night for
peace
Thank you all for your concern. I’m okay but
VERY busy beyond twitter working towards peace.
I love my country and I cherish her unity
I will forever be readily available to use my rare
professional access and knowledge to end this
madness and senseless violence in Nigeria
There is nothing wrong in having professional
access to insurgents as long as it is used to save
lives and promote peaceful coexistance
On twitter everybody is an expert and some of us
that can start a class here on conflict and
radicalisation are not taken seriously
Nigeria is our country, we have no other country
to call our own, so lets get it right
One of the main reasons I unfollowed many is b/c
of unmeasured comments. We must all think and
act properly to get this right.”
This is how Daily Mail is reporting it:
“One hundred non-combatant, low-level
sympathisers were to be freed and the two
groups brought together in a convoy of buses
accompanied by a hand-picked go-between,
respected Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida.
The plan had been agreed in tortuous negotiations
in response to worldwide outrage over a night-
time raid on a school in the town of Chibok on
April 14 when the girls were abducted from their
dormitories.
Mr Salkida was born in Borno State, where Boko
Haram originated. He has known its leaders all
his life and has unprecedented access.
He has been arrested on several occasions
accused of being a Boko Haram sympathiser, and
he fled with his family to Dubai two years ago.
But two weeks ago, he was summoned out of
exile by President Jonathan’s aides. He initially
feared he might face arrest, but was then given a
letter of indemnity signed by the President when
he flew to Nigeria.
Sources said Mr Salkida was able to travel by
taxi to the group’s forest camp to talk to Shekau
two weeks ago. ‘His mission was secretive and
dangerous,’ they said.
He is probably the only civilian with access to
Shekau. There is trust between them and Salkida
had only one aim – to get the schoolgirls out.
He reported afterwards that the group of girls he
saw were alive and well, and being adequately fed
and sheltered. They told him all they wanted was
to go home.
Salkida’s mission was complicated by the chaos
surrounding government’s pronouncements about
negotiations with the terrorist group.”
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