Ahmed Salkida, the Nigerian journalist who was declared wanted along with two others, Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil, by the Nigerian Army over Boko Haram’s latest video, has been arrested by the country’s secret police, the Department of State Security, DSS.
He was arrested by the DSS operatives on his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard Emirates flight EK 785 in Abuja on Monday, September 5, 2016.
Salkida had reportedly told a passenger on-board the flight that he knew he would be arrested as he had also been declared wanted by the DSS, sources say.
“I recognized the journalist from his photos posted on the Internet and engaged him in conversation throughout the seven-hour flight,” said a female passenger who sat next to him during the journey.
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.
He also said he didn’t know the whereabouts of the missing Chibok girls as claimed by the army.
However, he admitted to receiving two video clips from Boko Haram before they were released to the public, adding that Boko Haram had confidence in his objectivity as an investigative journalist, having previously interviewed Mohammed Yusuf, the founding leader of Boko Haram.
Recall that shortly after being declared wanted by the Army for alleged association with Boko Haram terrorists, Ahmad Salkida, has said he should be commended for making sacrifice to free the Chibok girls rather than being labelled an accomplice.
Salkida has been living in Dubai for a number of years.
He said he chose to return to Nigeria to clear his name
