Army releases two wanted persons over links with Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has granted administrative bail to two of the persons it declared wanted on Sunday, over their suspected links with Boko Haram.

They were declared wanted by the Army for allegedly failing to furnish authorities with information that could assist them in counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast and rescue abducted Chibok girls.

While Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil made themselves available for interrogation, Ahmed Salkida, said he would appear at any convenient time.

The Army as at the time of filing this report had not responded to The Guardian’s enquiries, seeking to know if they were satisfied with the explanations of the “wanted” persons before granting bail.

A statement by PRNigeria, said Bolori and Wakil had reported to the Army authorities freely and after interrogation they were then given some bail conditions, which they have met.

Quoting an anonymous military source, they said that the investigation was still ongoing while expecting the return of Salkida, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE).

But for the other two, “PRNigeria learnt that the bail was granted after they met some conditions, including submission of their international passports.”

The trio was declared wanted following the release of a video by Boko Haram, showing some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. A day before, Salkida had tweeted that the video was to be released.

Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman had said in the statement: “There is no doubt that these individuals have links with Boko Haram terrorists and have contacts with them. They must therefore come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok girls to enable us rescue them.”

The trio responded, with Bolori showing up at the barracks in Maiduguri the next day but was told to report to the Army Provost Marshal at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Wakil allegedly agreed that she has links with the Boko Haram “boys” as she knew them before they even became radicalized and has kept in touch with them even after their joining Boko Haram.