The lead negotiator who was involved in the controversial negotiation that led to the release of some of the Kaduna Train attack victims in March 2022, Alhaji Tukur Mamu has been arrested in Egypt on Tuesday. Alhaji Mamu, who is the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna was arrested and detained by Interpol at the Cairo International Airport while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia. He was detained while in the company of his wives and another person for 24 hours and is being repatriated back to Nigeria. It was gathered that Mamu was released by Interpol after they found nothing incriminating in his possession. He is expected to arrive at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Wednesday and may be interrogated further by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Speaking to Daily Trust Mamu said, "I was on my way to Cairo-Egypt but my destination was Saudi Arabia for my Umrah alongside some of my family members. I was detained for 24 hours at the Cairo International Airport under the orders of the Nigerian Government. I was not harassed at the Nigerian Airport until I got to Cairo when the security officials there told me that they had orders to arrest me by the Nigerian Department of State Security (DSS).
We were arrested alongside my family members for the whole day at Cairo Airport,” he said.
“Right now they boarded the next available flight for me and my family members back home to Kano. I’m sure the DSS officials would likely be waiting for me at the Kano airport today (Wednesday). I don’t have anything to hide and I’m not afraid of them (DSS). I swear to God I’m not afraid of them. I just want the world to know of what is happening” he said.
There have been allegations against Mamu about acting more on the side of the bandits, rather than Nigeria's interest, but he vehemently debunked such allegations on several occasions.
Mamu pulled out of the negotiation with the bandits after alleging that threat to his life and attempted blackmail by the Nigerian Government.
Meanwhile, the federal government is yet to react to Mamu's claim.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/03/02/3920892-79650608-2560-1440.jpg "BREAKING: Kylian Mbappé Announces PSG Exit")
