The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained that it arrested publisher, Tukur Mamu, “the self-acclaimed Kaduna Train hostage negotiator”, following a request from the country’s military, law enforcement and Intelligence community to answer questions on matters of security.
Mamu, who was first arrested in Egypt on his way to Saudi Arabia for holy pilgrimage, as he claimed, was flown back to Nigeria with his family.
In a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunaya, the secret police said, “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, 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.”
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday afternoon arrested Mamu at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
His arrest in Kano followed the earlier arrest in Cario, capital of Egypt, from where he was flown back to Nigeria aborting his planned trip to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.
The former negotiator between the terrorists who abducted train passengers in Abuja and victims’ families, had said he was headed for Saudi Arabia when he was arrested and detained in Egypt for 24 hours.
According to a newspaper report, the Egypt Air aircraft, which conveyed him and his family members, touched down in Kano around 1:55pm.
DSS operatives were stationed at the entrance of the international wing of the airport several minutes before the aircraft landed.
It was observed that the heavily armed operatives who were also in company of others dressed in mufti, were on guard at the entrance of the arrival section of the international wing while the three vehicles with Kano plate numbers (two hilux and one hiace) packed by the entrance.
Soon as passengers began to come out from the arrival section, one of the hilux moved forward while luggages, presumably of Mamu and his family members were loaded in one of the other two vehicles.
It was later observed that the two vehicles later moved forward and the hiace bus moved into the tarmac area before later zooming off together with the other two.
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Mamu and his family were conveyed in the hiace bus after they were apprehended by entrance of the aircraft.
A brother to the embattled negotiator confirmed that Mamu and his family had indeed been arrested and were being taken to Abuja.
▪︎ Additional report by Daily Trust