DSS Arrests Kaduna-Train Hostage Negotiator, Tukur Mamu At Kano Airport

Tukur Mamu, the media consultant to a popular Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi, has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

Tukur Mamu Arrested By DSS

The development comes a few hours after Mamu, who is a media consultant to the popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, was arrested with his family in Cairo, Egypt’s capital.

The publisher of Desert Herald was detained with members of his family at Cairo International Airport while they were on their way for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Mamu told newsmen that he left Nigeria on Tuesday and was detained by Egyptian security agencies for scrutiny, but nothing incriminating was found on him.

He accused the federal government of attempting to detain him in another country like the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho.

Mamu, who was at the forefront of negotiations for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train captives, was repatriated back to Nigeria before he was arrested again by DSS operatives stationed at the entrance of the international wing of the Kano airport.

Acoording to Daily Trust, 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, the publication said one of the hilux moved forward while luggages, presumably of Mamu and his family members were loaded in one of the other two vehicles.

Mamu and his family were reportedly conveyed in the hiace bus after they were apprehended by the entrance of the aircraft.

The spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunaya, was not immediately available to comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, the management of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald has accused the federal government of being behind the arrest of its publisher.

“In its efforts to intimidate and harass the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, Malam 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,” the paper’s management said in a statement.

“On arrival in Cairo, Malam Tukur Mamu and family members were arrested and detained for almost 24 hours and later deported back to Nigeria on the strict request and instructions of Nigeria government.

“Mallam Tukur Mamu is a responsible citizen who voluntary engaged in negotiations that led to the release of about 20 passengers of the I’ll 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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Mamu recently announced his withdrawal as the lead negotiator in securing the release of the hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack after he alleged a threat to his life by the Nigerian government.