Nigerian Journalist Ahmad Salkida, who covered Boko Haram activities, has cried out that his life is now in danger for doing his job.
Salkida was in August 2016 declared wanted by the Nigerian Army for his alleged link with Boko Haram terrorists while he was outside the country. On his return on 5th September, he was reportedly arrested by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and later released.
However, Salkida tweeted, on his handle @ContactSalkida, how his life has been ruined and threatened even after Nigerian government said his arrest was a misunderstanding.
He said “My life is ruined, I have been rendered homeless, I have been told that I have no rights at all, my family is scared, my crime is journalism. I have been silent, I have given leaders the benefit of doubt, but now it is time to fight back while I can. My life is in danger!
“What kind of government will declare a citizen wanted for doing nothing but journalism, ruined my life and that of my family. Government just said, it was a misunderstanding,’ but to hell with you, you are on your own. What kind of government will do this to a harmless patriotic citizen?
“The last one month has been one of the most difficult in my life, the threat to my life is more serious than what is in the public domain… I have been silent, I have given leaders the benefit of doubt, but now it is time to fight back while I can. My life is in danger!
“If you have little kids, I have five of them, you will thread carefully, any right thinking person would do same. My moderation is for my kids! Don’t you think such needless and wicked declaration has repercussions? You have no idea how it has affected me and my family…
“It’s beyond detention and release, I was accused unjustly, where is the official apology, even my kids will pay for this official slander…,” he lamented.
Salkida had been declared wanted along with two others after Boko Haram released a video confirming that the Chibok girls were alive but showed that some died in air strikes.
