The Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday informed a Federal High Court, Abuja, that detained Abuja-Kaduna Train Kidnapped Victim negotiator, Tukur Mamu, was part of an international terrorist network who used the cover of journalism to perpetrate crime. The security agency has stated that its preliminary investigation established the offences of “logistics supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism,” against terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu. The agency, in an affidavit in support of its ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022, filed before Federal High Court Justice Nkeonye Maha, in Abuja, also alleged the investigation established act of terrorism financing against Mamu. Following the submission, Justice Maha, ordered that Mamu be detained for the next 60 days, adding that if not done with its investigation within the period, the agency can come back to the court to renew the detention order.


In the motion dated and filed on September 12, by its lawyer, Mr. U.N. Dauda, the DSS, had sought “an order enabling the State Security Service/applicant to detain the respondent (Mamu) for a period of Sixty (60) days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation.”

In the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Hamza Pandogari, a legal officer with the agency, he said it was necessary for Mamu to be detained for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation of various acts of terrorism against him.

Pandogari alleged that Mamu, “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.

“That the respondent was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organizations across the globe.

“That upon his interception and subsequent repatriation to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed at his residence and office at No. 4, Ali Ladan Street, Sabon Kawo GRA and No. 14, Mamona Road, Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State, and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.”

Some of the items the agency said it recovered from Mamu’s residence and office includes: 151 dollars, 20 pounds sterling; 1,530 Indian Rupees; one Saudi Riyal; 70 Dirham; N1,506,000; and 16 assorted foreign coins.

The DSS also noted that two packs of pump action cartridges; 16 ATM (automated machine) cards from both local and foreign banks; seven cheque books of different banks; six laptops; four tablets; 24 handsets and three international passports belonging to Mamu; one firearm licence; eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms; 16 pieces of Nigerian Navy uniforms, were among 34 items recovered.