The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained why its operatives arrested the negotiator of the March 28 abducted passengers of Abuja-Kaduna train, Tukur Mamu, at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
Mamu was arrested at the Kano airport on Wednesday barely 24 hours after he was intercepted by Interpol at the Cairo International Airport in Egypt.
The Interpol subsequently deported Mamu along with his two wives and another traveller.
The Service’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement made available to The Star on Wednesday stated that Mamu’s arrest followed the request of the security agencies.
Afunanya described Mamu as a person of interest who need to answer “critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country.”
The Star had reported that Mamu was arrested in Egypt on Tuesday while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia.
READ ALSO: Abducted train passengers’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, arrested in Egypt
Mamu, the spokesperson of the Kaduna-based cleric, Sheikh Gumi, was flown back to Nigeria by Interpol in the early hours of Wednesday after he was interrogated.
The Egypt Air aircraft, which conveyed him and his family members, touched down in Kano at 1:55p.m.
Mamu was subsequently arrested alongside his family members by the DSS operatives who were stationed at the entrance of the international wing of the airport.
The DSS confirmed that its operatives arrested Mamu.
The Service justified its decision in a statement made available to The Star.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with enquires in respect of the arrest or otherwise of Tukur Mamu, the self-acclaimed Kaduna Train hostage negotiator.
“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,” Afunanya said.
Mamu, who is the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna, negotiated the release of some of the victims of the abducted train passengers.
He later announced his withdrawal as the lead negotiator in securing the release of the abductees after he alleged a threat to his life by the Federal Government.
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