Abductors of train passengers attacked Kuje prison — Gumi’s aide

The Publisher of Desert Herald, Tukur Mamu, who served as a mediator between the abductors of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train passengers and the Federal Government, has said the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja was attacked by the same terror group that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train in March.

Mamu, who is the Media Consultant to popular Kaduna Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, disclosed that he shared the threat issued by the gunmen to attack the Kuje prison and other facilities in the country with security agencies and the committee constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor

Mamu made this known via a statement he personally issued and made available to The Star on Wednesday.

He said: “Even on the tendency and threat to attack targets and other facilities of interest like the Kuje Correctional Centre attacks I have shared that intelligence with the security agencies and the committee that was constituted by CDS Gen. Lucky Irabor.

“I can confirm without doubt that the Kuje Correctional Centre attack was executed and coordinated by the same group that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train, because they gave indications of imminent attacks to that effect which I shared.

“For the records, they requested for the release of 51 of their members. But through power of dialogue and engagement I was able to singlehandedly scaled that number to only 10 and communicated with audio backing the development to the relevant authorities.

“There was unnecessary delay on giving them even a precise feedback by the government and now they have not only succeeded in carrying out another successful attack that indicts the nature of our intelligence and capacity to respond promptly but have also succeeded in releasing doses of their members which would have been averted if action has been taken to give them only 10 and secure the release of the train victims.

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“In all this risky, painful and frustrating engagement which government is yet to acknowledge and appreciate I have more than 100 documented audios that I shared with the relevant authorities. For the purpose of this important press release and to authenticate my claims, I will also share 4 of the latest audios.”

Mamu further announced his withdrawal from serving as a mediator between the abductors of the train passengers, who were kidnapped on March 28, and the Federal Government.

He cited the failure of relevant official stakeholders to take prompt action on the release of the abducted train passengers as the reason behind his decision to withdraw from serving as a mediator.

“And for the records, since after our successful mission that led to the release of the 11 victims, I have made up my mind then to disengage completely from this voluntary service to a nation that doesn’t appreciate sacrifices because of the above reasons and many more but I was instructed on humanitarian grounds by my principal, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi to exercise patience and continue.

“But with the current sad development at the highest official level of government, I am formally announcing my withdrawal completely from this service and to announce to the world that my life is also being threatened.

“It should also be on record that if anything happens to me certainly it is not the terrorists but within the corrupt society we are in.

“May Allah preserve the lives of the innocent victims of the train attack and may He secure their release in safety,” Mamu stated.

The Star