Nigeria fails to renew passport of ‘stranded’ Salkida

The passport of Ahmed Salkida, the Nigerian journalist declared wanted by the army for allegedly aiding Boko Haram, has not been renewed by the Nigeria Immigration Service, TheCable has learnt.

Salkida is known for having “professional contact” with some Boko Haram commanders who often send him information to counter claims of success made by the army in its counter-terrorism operations.

When he was declared wanted on August 15, his passport had expired and the Nigerian embassy in the United Arab Emirates, where he was on self-exile, did not renew it but issued him with a travel certificate.

Till date, the immigration service is yet to issue him his new passport despite his application, suggesting that he might have been blacklisted.

After his interrogation by the army, during which no felony was established against him, TheCable learnt that he demanded a public apology.

A security official in the know of the investigation said Salkida wanted a public apology so that he could be cleared to return to UAE, where he left behind his four children and wife.

“The security authorities in Nigeria promised to issue the apology but did not and the journalist had no other option than to bring his family abruptly to Abuja, last week,” the source said.

“He said it cost him a lot to relocate his family and is still expecting compensation.”

Salkida has complained on Twitter of “stigma” and “unbearable suffering” following the accusations linking him to terrorism.

He said he is stranded and is now trying to raise money to pay for rent and put his children in school again.

“He claimed it was already tough for him in the UAE and worse still, he lost everything to return to Abuja on the 5th of September,” the source.

On Sunday, he tweeted that he might have to publicly raise funds through GoFundMe.

I will soon set up a gofundme account, as painful as this is, it is the most pragmatic thing to do before I get my life back. ???????? ????

— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) October 2, 2016

Salkida has reportedly told friends and family that he is being strangulated by the Nigerian authorities for being a “credible counter” to the some of the “misleading narrative” on the war in the north-east.

“With no formal letter of apology or some sort of reparation from the government that publicly linked this journalist to terrorism, it will be difficult for Salkida to travel abroad, get a job anywhere,” the security source told TheCable.

“That is why Salkida thinks there is a deliberate plan to frustrate him.”

When contacted to respond on why the NIS had not renewed Salkida’s passport, Ekpedeme King, spokesman of the service, simply said: “I can’t confirm that, but it is not true.”