Ahmed Salkida, one of the three people wanted for alleged knowledge of
Boko Haram and the whereabouts of over 200 Chibok girls, was arrested in
Abuja on Monday. Mr. Salkida, who arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport aboard Emirates flight EK 785, was taken from the door of the
aircraft by members of the security forces.
A passenger seated next to Mr. Salkida during the journey informed
SaharaReporters that Mr. Salkida was nervous throughout 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 Mr. Salkida told her that he expected to be arrested upon arrival
because he was traveling with an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) and
that the State Security Service (SSS) 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.
Mr. 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.
It would be recalled that Mr. Salkida had last month accused the
government of refusing to renew his passport at the Nigerian Embassy in
the United Arab Emirates for fear that he would run away to an unknown
destination. He raised concerns that the military was witch-hunting him
and wrongly assumed that he was behind the report on the purchase of two
properties in Dubai by the Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai.
Saharareporters