Controversial Nigerian journalist who claims to have long-standing relationship with the Boko Haram Islamic sect, Ahmed Salkida, on Monday claimed that the Nigerian government was not telling the public all there is to know as regards the cease-fire deal it supposedly reached with the terrorist sect.
Salkida took to his Twitter handle, @ContactSalkida, stating that his recent investigation into the agreement shows that nothing has been done concretely to ensure safety in Nigeria’s northeast.
He tweeted thus, “My journalistic investigations on ‘negotiations’ (based on snapshots and several accounts I just received from sources), suggest and indeed clearly point in different direction from what the FG is insisting.”
Noting the roles played by “politics, ego, and rivalry” in situations like this, Salkida went on to condemn the gross misinformation being put forward by the federal government, especially as it concerns the release of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in April.
Reacting to the assurance given by the federal government that the cease-fire deal would ensure safe return of the girls nearly 200 days after their abduction, he tweeted, “since what we are dealing with has to do with human lives and livelihoods, let us get this right for once… The girls and many other captives, according to decade-long sources ‘have not been moved an inch and no talks [are] ongoing.”
He further noted that “the girls & many other captives, according to decade-long-sources, “have not been moved an inch & NO talks is ongoing.”
Salkida’s present allegation is coming on the heel of reports of increasing insurgents attacks and kidnappings since the cease-fire deal was reportedly reached on October 18. Report has it that no fewer than 30 persons were kidnapped in Borno State over the weekend.
The journalist denied the report of the Human Rights Watch which suggested that those kidnapped by the sect members are been forced to endure rape and sexual abuse in captivity, tweeting that, “Boko Haram leadership insist people will say whatever they like, but whoever rapes even an enemy will be punished as prescribed in Islam.”
In the string of tweets posted by Salkida on his handle, Boko Haram sources were quoted to have told him that their leader will release a video in the coming week, which will “address questions” that have been raised regarding the truce agreement.
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