Tukur Mamu
By Our Reporter
More facts have emerged on how Publisher turned Terrorists negotiator and an aide of popular cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Tukur Mamu, thwarted Federal government’s efforts at rescuing the abducted victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
A member of the Presidential Committee, Dr AbdulMalik Atta, revealed how Mamu introduced payment of ransom which hindered government’s efforts at rescuing the victims.
It would be recalled that Mamu was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport after he was repatriated from Egypt where he had been detained while on his way to Saudi Arabia.
Mamu was involved in negotiations for the release of persons abducted during an attack on a Kaduna-bound train in March.
According to the Department of State Services (DSS), Mamu who had negotiated the release of some victims kidnapped by terrorists during the Abuja -Kaduna train attack, was arrested on his way to meet some top international terrorists at a forum in Saudi Arabia.
Atta, whose father was one of the victims, during an interview with Channel’s Television on Friday said the bandits never demanded ransom but Mumu put money into the whole issue to derail the process and delay the release of the victims.
“Thanks to the support from the federal government through the office of the chief of defence staff, we were able to go into the bush and bring back the remaining 23 families finally, not through our making but because somebody betrayed the committee and the government.
“That’s in the person of Tukur Mamu who did everything within his reach to thwart the efforts the government has put in place, all in his interest. As we all know, he’s in the hands of the government now. Alhamdulillah, all the family members are back.
“The bandits never asked for money but he put money issue into the whole thing and derailed the process and kept everybody for the past six months.
“Due to Mamu’s introduction of money into the rescue process, the victims’ families had parted with over $200,000 prior to the chief of defence staff’s intervention. Thank God the CDS took it upon himself, put in place a committee that never asked for one kobo.
“The Presidential Committee made life-threatening sacrifices, as we had to go into the forest to meet with the terrorists and even slept in the bush. Every sacrifice done so far has been personal towards ensuring the release of the victims.”
He said the presidential committee had to engage with the bandits even though they knew what they did was bad.
He, therefore, advised the government to leave the door open for more engagement.
“I’m happy to tell you I have worked with incredible members of the highest order, if I had my way, all of them would be given national honours because we have to risk our lives, went into the bush, slept in the bush, heard the complaints of people even though we knew what they did was wrong. But we had to engage them but going forward like I said, our security agencies must synergize their operations and the government should open more room for engagement.”
