I’m available to be picked up by the Army, says woman declared wanted

Aisha Wakil, a Nigerian lawyer declared wanted by the military on Sunday has said she is available for interrogations.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Ms. Wakil said she received news of her being wanted with “rude shock,” because she is “not a stranger to the military” hierarchy in the country.

“They know me very well. Right from [former President Goodluck] Jonathan’s time. I am not hiding,” Ms. Wakil said.

Ms. Wakil was amongst the three individuals, including journalist, Ahmad Salkida and Ahmed Bolori, a peace negotiator based in Maiduguri, declared wanted on allegations that they had ties to the Boko Haram sect.

Ms. Wakil’s comment followed similar ones from Mr. Salkida and Mr. Bolori, who came out to say they were not on the run from the Nigerian authorities.

“I’ve had meeting with them, I still met with the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and other Army chiefs towards the end of last year. We had very lengthy meeting that we finished around 11 p.m and the next day we continued.”

Ms. Wakil said since she was unable to meet the military in Abuja, she might head back to Maiduguri and turn herself in at the Army’s 7th Division.

“I’m in Abuja right now, but I am thinking of going back to Maiduguri so I can see them at the main barracks there,” Ms. Wakil said. “But if there’s anywhere I could see them in Abuja here I will go and see them.”

Ms. Wakil said the development has left her family very worried, saying that it was “undeserving.”

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, had in a statement through which he declared the individuals wanted said all security agencies were on the alert to apprehend the three persons and urged Nigerians to provide information about their whereabouts to the authorities.