BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 07, (THEWILL) – Ahmed Salkida, the journalist detained on allegations that he is a member of the Boko Haram has been released by the Nigerian army after several hours in custody.
The army had declared him alongside two others wanted on allegations that they have close ties to the terrorist group responsible for thousands of violent deaths and destruction of the north east. The army had earlier questioned and released the duo.
The BBC Hausa language service reported Wednesday that Salkida who was detained upon arrival from Dubai on Monday had sent a text message that he was released without conditions within 24 hours of being detained.
“I landed and I was not intercepted on the ‘plane,” the BBC Hausa service quoted the journalist as saying in his text message.
Salkida also said he had been given a “pre-arranged lift” by the authorities, whom he said misunderstood the role of journalists in reporting conflict.
However, the Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, has insisted that the journalist and two others “have links with Boko Haram terrorists and have contacts with them.”
Although officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force jointly briefed journalists at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday on its proposal to have INEC shift Saturday’s Edo State governorship election.
