Tukur Mamu, the “terrorist negotiator.”
Fresh revelations emerged on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator detailed how alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, was offered a ₦50 million share from ransom money linked to the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train attack.
Testifying behind a protective screen for security reasons, the operative—who appeared as the sixth prosecution witness—told Justice Mohammed Umar that Shugaba, the leader of the terrorist group behind the attack, personally informed Mamu that he should “remove N50 million for his personal use” from a tranche of ransom sent to the group.
*Voice notes reveal disturbing communication*
Led in evidence by DSS counsel David Kaswe, the witness interpreted four voice notes extracted from Mamu’s mobile devices. The recordings, he said, were recovered during forensic analysis after Mamu’s arrest in Egypt and extradition to Nigeria.
“The first voice note that played was for defendant fixing a date for delivery of ransom,” he told the court.
Another recording featured Shugaba praising Mamu’s involvement, while a final audio had the group’s spokesperson, Baba Adamu, requesting the defendant’s help in procuring speakers and a public address system “for their preaching activities.”
According to the witness, the terrorists also asked Mamu to teach them “how to open a website for their activities.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prosecutors allege Mamu diverted the ransom negotiations from a government-appointed committee to private family discussions in order to secure personal financial benefits.
He was reportedly nominated by the terrorists themselves in March 2022 to handle communications and ransom collections from relatives of kidnapped train passengers.
The witness told the court that when Mamu was intercepted in Egypt, he quickly phoned an in-law identified as Mubarak Tinja, instructing him to remove cash, cars and other valuables from his Kaduna residence “to avoid detection.”
“A duly endorsed search warrant was executed,” the DSS operative said. The search uncovered both local and foreign currencies, as well as several vehicles. Investigators later traced items allegedly moved on Mamu’s instructions, including around $300,000 and seven cars, among them a Lexus, Mercedes E350, Peugeot 5008, Toyota Camry (Muscle) and a Hyundai.
Vehicle documents were tendered in court and admitted as exhibits.
*Forensic findings and admissions*
The witness confirmed that Mamu submitted a Samsung tablet and two phones upon his return to Nigeria. Forensic examination of the devices produced the voice notes played in court.
During interrogation, Mamu allegedly admitted instructing his in-law to relocate valuables and acknowledged that he had communicated with the terrorists.
The operative also disclosed that a pump action gun recovered from Mamu’s home was found to have an expired licence. “The licence expired in December 2021,” he said.
*Victims too traumatized to testify*
Two kidnap victims had earlier volunteered written statements to investigators—one in English, the other in Hausa—but they later declined to appear in court, citing fear and trauma. Their statements were admitted into evidence without objection from the defence.
The court also admitted eight statements made by Mamu and videos of his interrogation sessions.
Prosecutor Kaswe informed the court of plans to file a formal application requesting a judicial visit to the location where recovered items are stored.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the case to November 26 at 11 a.m. for continuation of trial.
