Dipo Olowookere
A Nigerian freelance journalist, Ahmed Salkida, has been declared wanted by authorities of the Nigerian Army.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Army though its spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said Mr Salkida is being wanted because of his links with the Boko Haram terrorists group.
It will be recalled that the terrorist organisation has usually used Mr Salkida to convey its messages and sometimes release its videos to the media.
On Sunday, August 14, 2016, Boko Haram posted a new video on YouTube, showing that the girls they kidnapped in 2014 in Borno State are still alive.
The Army, in the statement, said Mr Salkida has refused to use his links with Boko Haram to help the Nigerian government secure the release of the girls.
Also declared wanted by the Army alongside Mr Salkida were Ahmed U. Bolori and Aisha Wakil.
“The world is quite aware of the abduction of several persons; women, children and men, including the female students of Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State Nigeria by Boko Haram terrorists group.
“Consequently, appeal was made for their unconditional release by the Federal Government. The military also made concerted efforts to rescue them.
“We also appealed to Nigerians that have any information to volunteer to the military or security agencies to enable us rescue them,” the Army said in the press statement.
It, however, lamented that “two recent incidents have pointed to the fact that, there are three individuals namely; Ahmed Salkida, (Ambassador) Ahmed U. Bolori and Aisha Wakil that have information on the conditions and the exact location of these girls.”
“Therefore, the Nigerian Army hereby declares the two gentlemen and the lady wanted for interrogation. We are relying on the relevant laws of the land and in particular the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 (as amended) where Nigerians could be punished for failure to disclose information about terrorists or terrorists activities,” the statement said.
The Army said it decision to declare the three persons wanted was as a “result of their link with the last two videos released by Boko Haram Terrorists and other findings of our preliminary investigations.”
“There is no doubt that these individuals have links with Boko Haram Terrorists and have contacts with them. They must therefore come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons to enable us rescue them.
“We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and peace loving people to give us useful information on their whereabouts. We are also liaising with other security agencies for their arrest if they failed to turn up,” the statement disclosed.
