The Department of State Services (DSS) said yesterday that the negotiator for the release of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, Mr. Tukur Mamu, was arrested on the orders of the federal government.
Spokesman for the DSS, Dr Peter Ifunanya, said in a statement that the arrest and extradition of the negotiator followed a request by Nigeria’s military, law enforcement and intelligence community to their foreign partners to bring back Mamu to the country to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country.
The statement entitled ‘Tukur Mamu is in DSS custody’ reads: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with enquires in respect of the arrest or otherwise of Tukur Mamu, the self-acclaimed Kaduna Train hostage negotiator.
“This is to confirm that Mamu, as a person of interest, was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt on 6th September, 2022 while on his way to Saudi Arabia.
“He has since been returned to Nigeria, today (yesterday), 7th September, 2022 and taken into the Service’s custody. The act followed a request by Nigeria’s Military, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community to their foreign partners to bring back Mamu to the country to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country.
“The public may wish to note that the law will appropriately take its course.”
Recall that the media consultant, who has been vocal about his role in negotiating the freedom of the abductees, was arrested in Cairo, alongside members of his family on Tuesday.
He was reported to have been on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj when he was detained at the Cairo International Airport for 24 hours and later deported to Nigeria.
Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, the management of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper alleged that the federal government was behind the arrest of its publisher in the North African country.
“In its efforts to intimidate and harass the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, Mallam Tukur Mamu, the federal government has surreptitiously contrived the arrest and deportation of the publisher as well as members of his family while on their way to the holy land for lesser Hajj.
“On the 5th September 2022, Mamu alongside his family planned the journey to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser Hajj.
“They travelled through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and departed exactly at 2:00pm aboard Egypt Airlines.
“Mallam Tukur Mamu is a responsible citizen who voluntary engaged in negotiations that led to the release of about 20 passengers of the ill-fated fated train hijacked by gunmen.
“His patriotic mission to ensure the safety of the hapless passengers made him a target of blackmail by unscrupulous elements in the government who are hell-bent in punishing him for this noble but dangerous sacrifice for the fatherland. Such threats and intimidations have forced him to reveal a number of times that his life was under serious threat.
“Due to numerous threats to his life and conspiracy from the side of security agents to frame him, he withdrew from the said negotiations but from his latest sojourn, it appears that those who are desperately praying for his head are still hell-bent in carrying out their odious dastardly plans.
