Abducted Chibok Girls: The Only Nigerian Journalist With Access To Boko Haram Wades Into Negotiation

Ahmad Salkida, the only Nigerian journalist/
civilian to have access to Boko Haram was
reportedly flown in a few weeks back by the
Nigerian government to act as negotiator
between them and the Boko Haram extremists. Salkilda
Salkida, who previously worked for Daily Trust
and Premium Times and reported extensively
on Boko Haram had fled Nigeria to Dubai
about 2 years ago, after he was being accused
of being a Boko Haram sympathizer.
Salkida, civilian who has allegedly seen Boko
Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and come out
alive, was said to have flown back home after
the Nigerian government assured him that he
will not be arrested.
He tweeted:
There is nothing wrong in having
professional access to insurgents as
long as it is used to save lives and
promote peaceful coexistance...
5:24 PM - 26 May 2014
Ahmad Salkida
@ContactSalkida
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Trusted by both the government and
extremists from Boko Haram, Salkida acted as
go-between, risking his life on a one-man
mission to enter the gunmen's lair and broker
an agreement, according to security sources.
Mr Salkida was born in the north-eastern
state of Borno, where Boko Haram originated
and after arriving the country was able to
travel by taxi to the group's forest camp to
talk to Shekau two weeks ago.
Security sources said, "His mission was
secretive and dangerous. 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."
His mission was however complicated by the
chaos surrounding the Nigerian government's
pronouncements about negotiations with the
terrorist group.
The deal was that one hundred non-
combatant, low-level sympathisers were to be
freed in exchange for the girls but the
Nigerian government reportedly cancelled the
"swap" deal of the abducted girls for Boko
Haram prisoners at the last minute.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Reuben
Abati said yesterday, May 26 that he was not
aware of any attempted rescue plan taking
place last week.
Over 200 were school girls were kidnapped on
April 14, in Chibok community, Borno and the
Nigerian government has making efforts to
secure their release. According to the military
the girls have been located but they cannot
go in get them by force.