Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, is now in their custody.
Lifestyle Nigeria reports that Mamu, who is a media consultant to Ahmed Gumi, the popular Islamic cleric, was at the forefront of negotiations for the release of the Kaduna-train hostage.
Mamu was detained at the Cairo International Airport in Egypt while he was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
In an update, the DSS confirmed that Mamu “has since been returned to the country” on Wednesday and “taken into the Service’s custody.”
The statement made available by Peter Afunanya, DSS Public Relations Officer, reads:
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with enquires 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 back Manu 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. “