Kaduna Train Attack: Tukur Mamu received N50m from ransom paid to terrorists – Witness

A witness in the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, the man accused of negotiating with terrorists during the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train abduction, told the court Wednesday that the defendant received N50 million from the leader of the terrorist group.

Testifying behind a screen for security reasons, the Department of State Services (DSS) operative said the payment was mentioned in voice notes extracted from Mamu’s phones and tablet after his arrest in Egypt.

The audio recordings, which were played in court, allegedly captured conversations between Mamu and members of the terrorist group holding the train passengers hostage.

According to the witness, the terrorists’ leader, known as Shugaba, thanked Mamu for his role and told him to take N50 million “for his personal use” from a tranche of ransom money.

Another member of the group reportedly asked Mamu to help them get speakers and a public address system, and even teach them how to open a website.

The DSS operative also said Mamu asked a relative to move his valuables, cash, cars and other items, from his home in Kaduna before security agents could conduct a search.

Investigators later recovered foreign currency, several vehicles and other items from various locations.

The witness added that Mamu admitted during interrogation that he communicated with the terrorists and instructed his in-law to move items from his house. He also admitted owning a pump-action gun, though its licence had expired.

The court admitted several pieces of evidence, including voice recordings, documents for recovered vehicles, and statements made by kidnap victims who declined to appear in court due to trauma.

Mamu, the publisher of the Desert Herald newspaper, was arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport and subsequently repatriated to Nigeria on suspicion of financing terrorism.

The federal government alleged that he facilitated negotiations between families of hostages abducted during the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack and members of Boko Haram, for his personal financial gain.

He was also accused of collecting ransom payments from families of abducted victims, confirming the amounts, and ensuring their delivery to the terrorists.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the trial to November 26 for continuation.