Stigma of terror association worse than HIV/AIDS – Boko Haram linked journalist

Ahmed Salkida, a Nigerian journalist with links to Boko Haram is on a collision course with the Nigerian authorities. He insists that a public apology be rendered to him after he was declared wanted by the Nigerian army.

He was recently declared ‘wanted’ along with two others by the Nigerian army with respect to Boko Haram’s most recent video showing the abducted Chibok girls.

At the time, he was out of the country and expressed the desire to cooperate with the army on his return. Upon his return, he disputed local media reports that he was arrested by the army on arrival.

You declared me wanted, charge me to court, if I am guilty of any crime, don't apologize to me in private or spare me. Apologize publicly!

— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) September 22, 2016

He earlier this week sent tweets relating to how his life was under threat because the Army had accused him unjustly and yet failed to undo the risk associated with having linked him to terrorism.

Salkida said, ‘‘The stigma of being associated with terrorism is worse than that of HIV/AIDS, it’s even worse when you are unjustly linked with terrorism.’‘

What kind of Govt will declare a citizen wanted for doing nothing but journalism, ruined my life and that of my family. Govt just said, 1/2

— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) September 20, 2016

'it was a misunderstanding,' but to hell with you, you are on your own. What kind of Govt will do this to a harmless patriotic citizen? 2/2

— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) September 20, 2016

Boko Haram’s main request in the Chibok girls video is a call on the parents to pile pressure on the government to release their brothers held in detention across the country so that they would also release the much sought after girls.

The group have engaged in several abductions throughout Nigeria’s northeastern region including the 276 Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014. The group also claimed responsibility for attacks on the United Nations Office in the administrative capital, Abuja in 2011.