Persons declared wanted by military over Boko Haram connection make themselves available
Tue Aug 16, 2016 07:40:am National
3.4K By Buchi Obichie
The three persons declared wanted by the military in connection with the new Boko Haram video, said on Monday, that they were ready to make themselves available.
However, one of them, Dubai-based journalist, Ahmad Salkida, has said that rather than being labelled as a Boko-Haram accomplice, he should be commended for the sacrifices he has made to free the abducted Chibok girls.
Salkida who was declared wanted by the Army along with two others- Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil- said he was ready to return to Nigeria to meet with the Nigerian Army on the condition that it funded his trip.
The journalist is one of the persons who had been having negotiations with the Federal Government over the release of the Chibok girls.
Due to his credibility among the terrosists, a Nigerian senator had last year described Salkida, as one of the most reliable persons who could help the Federal Government free the girls.
In a statement which he released on Monday, the journalist said the Army was aware that he was not in the country at the time he was declared wanted.
He said: "The Army is aware that I am not in Nigeria at present. In the coming days, I will seek to get a flight to Abuja and avail myself to the Army authorities. Indeed, my return will be hastened if the military sends me a ticket."
Salkida wondered why the army declared him wanted for simply carrying out his job as a journalist, saying he did his work in strict compliance with professionalism.
"Clearly, my status as a Nigerian journalist, who has reported extensively, painstakingly and consistently on the Boko Haram menace in the country since 2006, is an open book known to Nigerians and the international community.
"As a testimony to the credible and professional values of my access, since May, 2015, l have been to Nigeria three times on the invitation of Federal Government agencies. I made personal sacrifices for the release of our Chibok daughters," Salkida said.
In the same vein, Ahmed Bolori, who was also declared wanted by the military, returned to the barracks yesterday.
He had previously turned himself in on Sunday evening, but was allegedly asked to go back home without questioning.
Providing continuous update on the situation via his Facebook page, Bolori wrote, "I have signed the visitors register since and I am still waiting to be taken in. Although, the Army guard doesn't have airtime to contact his heads." This was at about 10:00am yesterday.
An hour later, he posted another photo saying: "Finally, I am driving into the Army Operation Headquarters now."
Some 20 minutes later, he posted another picture, saying "the Army is now treating me well and peacefully, as a nice colonel by the name Ahmed' (a military police), just took me to his office to drink tea. May God help us!"
The Chief of General Staff, General Olonishakin, speaking at the Presidential Villa, however dismissed such visit, saying none of those declared wanted had reported to the military.
In his words, "nobody reported to my men and was turned back."
The third wanted person and the only female of the bunch, Aisha Wakil, a lawyer, was at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, to submit herself to military authorities.
Wakil said she was immediately taken in for interrogation as soon as she arrived at the Defence Headquarters.
She said the front desk officers asked her what she wanted and she told them she was declared wanted on Sunday. But the officers said they were not aware of such and she asked them to read the newspapers online.
"They told me they will go and read and get back to me," Mrs. Wakil said.
Confirming the development, Nigerian Army Spokesman, Sani Usman, said on Monday, that Mrs. Wakil had indeed submitted herself.
He said, "I have been reliably informed that she has reported at the Defence Headquarters and she has been directed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence."
However, one of them, Dubai-based journalist, Ahmad Salkida, has said that rather than being labelled as a Boko-Haram accomplice, he should be commended for the sacrifices he has made to free the abducted Chibok girls.
Salkida who was declared wanted by the Army along with two others- Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil- said he was ready to return to Nigeria to meet with the Nigerian Army on the condition that it funded his trip.
The journalist is one of the persons who had been having negotiations with the Federal Government over the release of the Chibok girls.
Due to his credibility among the terrosists, a Nigerian senator had last year described Salkida, as one of the most reliable persons who could help the Federal Government free the girls.
In a statement which he released on Monday, the journalist said the Army was aware that he was not in the country at the time he was declared wanted.
He said: "The Army is aware that I am not in Nigeria at present. In the coming days, I will seek to get a flight to Abuja and avail myself to the Army authorities. Indeed, my return will be hastened if the military sends me a ticket."
Salkida wondered why the army declared him wanted for simply carrying out his job as a journalist, saying he did his work in strict compliance with professionalism.
"Clearly, my status as a Nigerian journalist, who has reported extensively, painstakingly and consistently on the Boko Haram menace in the country since 2006, is an open book known to Nigerians and the international community.
"As a testimony to the credible and professional values of my access, since May, 2015, l have been to Nigeria three times on the invitation of Federal Government agencies. I made personal sacrifices for the release of our Chibok daughters," Salkida said.
In the same vein, Ahmed Bolori, who was also declared wanted by the military, returned to the barracks yesterday.
He had previously turned himself in on Sunday evening, but was allegedly asked to go back home without questioning.
Providing continuous update on the situation via his Facebook page, Bolori wrote, "I have signed the visitors register since and I am still waiting to be taken in. Although, the Army guard doesn't have airtime to contact his heads." This was at about 10:00am yesterday.
An hour later, he posted another photo saying: "Finally, I am driving into the Army Operation Headquarters now."
Some 20 minutes later, he posted another picture, saying "the Army is now treating me well and peacefully, as a nice colonel by the name Ahmed' (a military police), just took me to his office to drink tea. May God help us!"
The Chief of General Staff, General Olonishakin, speaking at the Presidential Villa, however dismissed such visit, saying none of those declared wanted had reported to the military.
In his words, "nobody reported to my men and was turned back."
The third wanted person and the only female of the bunch, Aisha Wakil, a lawyer, was at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, to submit herself to military authorities.
Wakil said she was immediately taken in for interrogation as soon as she arrived at the Defence Headquarters.
She said the front desk officers asked her what she wanted and she told them she was declared wanted on Sunday. But the officers said they were not aware of such and she asked them to read the newspapers online.
"They told me they will go and read and get back to me," Mrs. Wakil said.
Confirming the development, Nigerian Army Spokesman, Sani Usman, said on Monday, that Mrs. Wakil had indeed submitted herself.
He said, "I have been reliably informed that she has reported at the Defence Headquarters and she has been directed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence."
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