Chibok girls: Wanted journalist, Ahmed Salkida replies military

The journalist declared wanted by the Nigerian Army in relation to the missing girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Mr. Ahmed Salkida, has said that he would soon visit the country to honour the summons by the Army authorities. Salkida said in a statement made available to an Abuja-based media consultant to security agencies, PR Nigeria, that he intended to get a ticket to visit the country as soon as possible. The journalists reputed to have access to the leadership of the Boko Haram stressed that his planned visit to the country would come quicker if the Army authorities were able to send a ticket to him. He said that he had made personal sacrifices to pursue the release of the missing Chibok girls. Salkida said that his status as a professional journalist who effectively reported the Boko Haram insurgency was known to everybody. “My attention has been drawn to a public notice put out by the Nigerian Army and signed by Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations. The statement declaring me wanted seeks culpable grounds to punish me on account of “last two videos released by Boko Haram terrorists and other findings…” by the Army. “Clearly, my status as a Nigerian journalist who has reported extensively, painstakingly and consistently, the Boko Haram menace in the country since 2006 is an open book known to Nigerians and the international community. “Equally, my total allegiance and sacrifice to the Federal Republic of Nigeria is self evident. I have stayed within the creed of professional journalism in my work. “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. “Finally, the Army is aware that I am not in Nigeria. 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.” He said However, investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that Salkida who is based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, would arrive the country within the week. A source close to the journalist said that he was making moves to visit the country to respond to the issues raised by the Army. The Nigerian Army had declared Salkida and two others identified as Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil, wanted in connection with the missing Chibok girls on Sunday. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said that the trio were declared wanted in connection with two recent videos released by the Boko Haram. Usman was emphatic that trio had knowledge of where the missing girls were being kept.