· Wanted Aisha Wakil, Bolori submit selves to military
Nigeria’s top security chiefs met yesterday at the Presidential
Villa and declared that the ongoing military operations against the
Boko Haram insurgents in the North East will continue.
The meeting came a day after the Boko Haram terrorists released a
video of some of the Chibok schoolgirls they kidnapped on April 14,
2014 in Borno State.
The terrorists had in the video demanded freedom for their arrested
members as a condition for releasing the over 200 girls abducted from
the Government Girls Secondary School in Borno State.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which was not attended by
President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Defence
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin, said the parley also covered other
security challenges outside terrorism.
He said the military was still analysing the latest Boko Haram video before making appropriate comments.
Olonishakin, who chaired the meeting, said that it was about “how
we handle crises, all forms of crises – be it flood or terrorism. We are
analysing the video released by Boko Haram and we will make appropriate
comments at the right time.”
He said whatever demands being made by the terrorists can only be
decided on by politicians as the military was going ahead with its
operations against the insurgents.
“That is a political decision to be taken. The military decision is
that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being
conducted appropriately,” he stated.
He also denied reports that one of the three persons declared
wanted over the video, reported to army authorities in Maiduguri and was
asked to go home and return the following day, stating that “nobody
reported to my men and was turned back”.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said
even before the Boko Haram video surfaced, the Federal Government had
been negotiating with the terrorists.
He said: “The government’s position is clear – that we are in touch
with them. We are just being careful and cautious to ensure that we
are talking to the right people, especially with the news that there is
a split in the leadership. But what is important is the safety and
security of these girls.”
On the demand for swap of the girls with detained terrorists,
Mohammed said: “Until you are able to ascertain the authenticity of
those you are talking to, you don’t go into details.”
Commenting on the plan by the campaign group, BringBackOurGirls,
to stage a protest march to put pressure on the Presidency over the
release of the girls, he said government appreciated their commitment
but would not bring to public all that is being done to free the girls.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col.
Hameed Ali, who also attended the meeting, said it was more like a
workshop on response to emergencies.
The chiefs of staff for the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as
the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, were also at the
meeting.
Meanwhile, Aisha Wakil, a Nigerian lawyer declared wanted by the
military on Sunday, has reported at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in
Abuja.
Wakil, Ahmed Salkida (journalist) and Ahmed Balori were declared
wanted by the Nigerian Army on Sunday for alleged link to Boko Haram.
Wakil, in a twitter post, said that she had arrived at the Defence
Headquarters and was not immediately quizzed by security operatives.
According to an online news medium, Wakil added that the front desk
officers at DHQ asked her what she wanted and she told them she was
declared wanted. But the officers said they were not aware of such and
she asked them to read the newspapers online.
“They told me they will go and read and get back to me,” Wakil said.
From the Defence Headquarters, she has been directed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence.
In a twitter post, @HQNigerian Army on Monday, Wakil said that she
had several meetings with the Chief of Army Staff on the way forward
but they refused to heed to her advice on the Boko Haram saga.
She said: “I understand that the Military has declared me, Ahmed
Salkida and Ahmed Bolori wanted for having links with Boko Haram. It’s
interesting. Now they believe me?
“I know the Boko Haram boys. I have been in the front fighting for
peace long before Chibok girls were kidnapped. Nigerian security
operatives know me too well; I am not hiding. Why declare me wanted?
“I have had meetings with the Chief of Army Staff and his people. I
told them the way forward, to allow me come with some Commanders of
Boko Haram and discuss with them, present the release of CBGs but they
chose to do things their ways only and never gave considerations to any
of my suggestions.”
In a swift reaction, the Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman,said
“these people have relevant information but refused to divulge them to
government, instead, they were demanding outrageous gratifications.
They have been feeding fat at the expense of the Chibok schoolgirls and
other Nigerians.”
Also yesterday, Salkida indicated his readiness to surrender to
the military authorities as soon as he gets a flight ticket to Nigeria.
Salkida, who is at present on self-exile in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) said that he is ready to surrender himself if certain
conditions are met.
In a statement he issued on Monday, Salkida disclosed his
willingness to travel to Nigeria and clear his name on the allegations
levelled against him by the Nigerian Army which he described as
“baseless and unjustifiable.”
There were also indications yesterday that Bolori, who turned
himself in on Sunday evening but was asked to go back home without
questioning, has returned to the Army Barracks in Maiduguri.
At about 10am, Bolori posted a picture on his Facebook page that
showed him signing a security post visitor’s book with a comment that
reads: “I have signed the visitors register since and I am still waiting
to be taken in. Although the Army guard doesn’t have airtime to
contact his heads.”
