Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, access to boko haram for negotiation

Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who previously
worked for Daily Trust and Premium Times and
reported extensively on Boko Haram, fled Nigeria
to Dubai 2 years ago after being accused of being

a Boko Haram sympathizer. He said he fled after
'his life and that of his family became endangered'
after security agencies began to mistake his in-
depth reporting on the terrorist group as evidence
of his closeness to them. He went underground for
several weeks before finally fleeing Nigeria.
Salkida was perhaps the only Nigerian journalist/
civilian to have access to Boko Haram, and he
said at the time that he'd turned down Boko
Haram's many requests for him to publish
exclusive interviews and materials for them.
Anyway according to new reports, the Nigerian
government flew him back home a few weeks ago
to negotiate with Boko Haram on their behalf, since
he's the only civilian who has allegedly seen Boko
Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and come out
alive. He reportedly came back home after the
Nigerian government assured him that he will not
be arrested. (See his tweets). Continue...
From UK Daily Mail
One hundred non-combatant, low-level
sympathisers were to be freed and the two
groups brought together in a convoy of
buses accompanied by a hand-picked go-
between, respected Nigerian journalist
Ahmad Salkida.
The plan had been agreed in tortuous
negotiations in response to worldwide
outrage over a night-time raid on a school in
the town of Chibok on April 14 when the girls
were abducted from their dormitories.
Mr Salkida was born in Borno State, where
Boko Haram originated. He has known its
leaders all his life and has unprecedented
access.
He has been arrested on several occasions
accused of being a Boko Haram
sympathiser, and he fled with his family to
Dubai two years ago.
But two weeks ago, he was summoned out
of exile by President Jonathan’s aides. He
initially feared he might face arrest, but was
then given a letter of indemnity signed by the
President when he flew to Nigeria.
Sources said Mr Salkida was able to travel
by taxi to the group’s forest camp to talk to
Shekau two weeks ago. ‘His mission was
secretive and dangerous,’ they said.
He is probably the only civilian with access
to Shekau. There is trust between them and
Salkida had only one aim – to get the
schoolgirls out.
He reported afterwards that the group of girls
he saw were alive and well, and being
adequately fed and sheltered. They told him
all they wanted was to go home.
Salkida’s mission was complicated by the
chaos surrounding government’s
pronouncements about negotiations with the
terrorist group.
Shekau has released two shocking videos
showing the girls dressed in hijabs and
reciting verses from the Koran.