Deported to Nigeria, detained by DSS
I don’t know why he was arrested – Gumi
‘He has questions to answer on security matters’
BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
The lead mediator between the Nigerian government and bandits in Northern Nigeria, Tukur Mamu, was arrested on Wednesday by officials of Department of State Services at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
The spokesperson for the Kaduna-based cleric, Ahmad Gumi, was earlier arrested in Egypt on Tuesday and detained by Interpol at the Cairo International Airport, while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia.
Mamu was reportedly on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj when he was detained at the Cairo International Airport for 24 hours before being deported to Nigeria.
He was accompanied by his two wives and one other person.
An Egypt Air aircraft which conveyed him and his family members, touched down in Kano around 1:55pm on Wednesday.
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 luggage, presumably of Mamu and his family members, was loaded in one of the other two vehicles.
It was also 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.
Mamu and his family were conveyed in the Hiace bus after they were apprehended at the 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.
A source at the DSS Abuja office also confirmed that Mamu had indeed been arrested.
Mamu had disclosed that he left Nigeria on Tuesday and was subjected to investigation by Egyptian security agencies but was not indicted with anything incriminating.
He said the Egyptian government found that his papers were genuine.
Mamu alleged that the Nigerian government planned to detain him in Egypt, a similar pattern to the arrest of Yoruba separatist Sunday Igboho who was arrested in the Republic of Benin and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Mamu, who is the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna, negotiated the release of some of the victims of the March 2022 Kaduna Train attack.
He later 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.
The terrorists are still holding several of the victims captive.
However, notable Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, said on Wednesday that he had no information about the reason for the arrest of Mamu in Cairo, Egypt.
“I am just hearing that he was detained in Cairo with his family. I am not aware of why that would happen and because the Nigerian government did not charge him for anything or declare him wanted at any time. But I have also heard that he is on his way back to Nigeria, so I hope to have more information upon his arrival later today,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DSS confirmed on Wednesday that Manu was in its custody.
Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja.
The statement reads: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with enquiries in respect of the arrest or otherwise of Tukur Manu, the self-acclaimed Kaduna train hostage negotiator.
“This is to confirm that Manu, 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 the country, 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 Manu back 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.”
