Meet Ahmad Salkida, the Only Nigerian Journalist with Unprecedented Access to Boko Haram

Ahmad Salkida was born in Borno State, where Boko Haram originated. He has known Boko Haram leaders all his life and has unprecedented access.

 

Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, fled Nigeria to Dubai two years ago after being accused of being a Boko Haram sympathizer.  He previously worked for Daily Trust and Premium Times and reported extensively on Boko Haram. He said he fled after 'his life and that of his family became endangered' after security agencies began to mistake his in-depth reporting on the terrorist group as evidence of his closeness to them. He went underground for several weeks before finally fleeing Nigeria. Salkida was perhaps the only Nigerian journalist/civilian to have access to Boko Haram, and he said at the time that he'd turned down Boko Haram's many requests for him to publish exclusive interviews and materials for them.

 

But two weeks ago, he was summoned out of exile by President Jonathan’s aides. He initially feared he might face arrest, but was then given a letter of indemnity signed by the President when he flew to Nigeria. 

 

Sources said Mr Salkida was able to travel by taxi to the group’s forest camp to talk to Shekau two weeks ago. ‘His mission was secretive and dangerous,’ they said.

 

It would be recalled that Shekau has released two shocking videos showing the girls dressed in hijabs and reciting verses from the Koran.

 

He reported afterwards that the group of girls he saw were alive and well, and being adequately fed and sheltered. They told him all they wanted was to go home.

 

He is probably the only civilian with access to Shekau. There is trust between them and Salkida had only one aim – to get the schoolgirls out.

 

Adapted from Linda Ikeji's Blog