Ahmad Salkida, journalist known to have access to Boko Haram, has said that the terrorist group still control territories and villages in Borno State, contrary to claims by the Nigerian security authorities.

Salkida said this on Monday in reaction to the news of over 1000 Boko Haram captives, mostly women and children, that were rescued by soldiers.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Texas Chukwu, a Brigadier General and spokesperson of Operation Lafiya Dole, Troops of 22 Brigade deployed in operation LAFIYA DOLE have rescued over 1000 hostages from the Boko Haram terrorists enclave.

The operation, conducted in conjunction with allies of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), rescued the hostages from Malamkari, Amchaka, Walasa and Gora villages of Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, the statement  read.

The hostages included women, children and young men forcefully recruited by Boko Haram fighters.

“The Army wish to remind the public of its resolve to rout out Boko Haram and rescued all hostages. The public is also advised to report any suspicious character to the appropriate authority for prompt action,” the army spokesperson said .

He said the rescued persons are receiving treatment in a military medical facility.

But Salkida is unimpressed. He instead urged the army to admit that the insurgents still occupy territories in the North East, and to ensure that such territories are liberated and the people are rescued.

“When is the military going to admit that #BH still control territories for these number of villagers, and many more to come, to be rescued?” Salkida tweeted.

Kodus! But when is the military going to admit that #BH still control territories for these number of villagers, and many more to come, to be rescued? https://t.co/MAmWtOagQb

— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) May 7, 2018

Salkida’s claim agrees with the position of Abubakar Kyari, Chairman, Senate committee on Defence, who who in February 6 described himself as a “displaced senator”.

“I still remain a displaced senator because my entire constituency has been displaced by Boko Haram,” Kyari said, before adding that even the communities that had been liberated “are still having some challenges like restriction of commercial activities in markets and farms”.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian security hierarchy maintain that there is no territory in Nigeria that is being controlled by Boko Haram.

“Today no local government area or any part of the Nigeria territories is under the control of Boko Haram,” Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence told journalists in February.

Similarly, in 2016, during a meeting between President Buhari and Ban Ki-Moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations, the President said Boko Haram no longer hold any territory in Nigeria.

“They are currently not holding any territory today as we speak,” Buhari insisted.

The president has not changed the narrative despite the continued attacks on villages in the Northeast.

However, a fact-check story by AfricaCheck, has concluded that Buhari’s remarks were exaggerated as there is evidence that Boko Haram still hold territories and have operational bases in some remote areas in the Northeast.