DSS array hostage negotiator Mamu in court alleging he is a major sponsor of terrorism in Nigeria

DEPARTMENT of State Services (DSS) prosecut9rs have told a federal high court in Abuja that recently-arrested publisher and hostage  negotiator Tukur Mamu is a major sponsor of terror who was on his way to a terrorists meeting when apprehended in Egypt.

Last week, Egyptian police arrested Alhaji Tukur Mamu the lead negotiator mediating between the terrorists who kidnapped passengers on the Abuja to Kaduna train in March and the Nigerian government.  Arrested in Cairo, along with his family members while on his way to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser hajj pilgrimage, Alhaji Mamu is the publisher of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper.

Following his arrest, Alhaji Mamu has been repatriated back to Nigeria and yesterday, the DSS charged him to court.  In an affidavit in support of its ex-parte motion and  filed before the court, the DSS described  Alhaji Mamu as a logistics supplier to both local and foreign terror groups.

According to the DSS, Alhaji Mamu was on his to a meeting with foreign terrorist leaders before his interception last week. He was  arrested on September 6  with  his two wives, who were later released after DSS operatives ransacked Alhaji Mamu's home and office, where they said they  recovered incriminating materials, including military accoutrements.

When the matter was brought to court yesterday, presiding Justice Evelyn Maha granted the ex-parte motion filed by DSS counsel Ahmed Magaji asking to detain Alhaji Mamu for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of the investigation. This motion was dated September 12.

DSS official Hamza Pandogari said: “Mamu was intercepted by Nigerian foreign partners on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organisations across the globe. Upon his interception and subsequent repatriation back to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office and home  in Sabon Kawo and Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.

“The self-acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator exploited the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abet  as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations. Preliminary investigation so far established, amongst others, the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism as well as terrorism financing against him.

“The defendant has used the cover of his profession as a journalist to aid both local and international terrorist groups. The action of the defendant has orchestrated the untimely death of several security personnel in north central and northeast parts of Nigeria.

“The defendant has discreetly given information to bandits and terrorists that escalated various acts of terrorism in Nigeria. The investigation has assumed a wider dimension  and sophistication requiring time and advance expertise to conclude.

“Some of the suspects working with the defendant are at large and premature release of the defendant will jeopardise the ongoing investigation. The activities of the defendant and his associates at large constitute a potent threat to the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the DSS listed some of the items it recovered from Alhaji Mamu’s residence and office to include $151,£20,  1, 530 Indian rupees, one Saudi riyald, 70 dirham; N1,560,000 and 16 assorted foreign coins. Also recovered were  two packs of pump action cartridges, 16 ATM  cards of both local and foreign banks, seven cheque books of different banks, six laptops, four tablets, 24 handsets and three international passports, one firearm licence, eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms and 16 pieces of Nigerian Navy uniforms.