Train attack: Negotiator, Tukur Mamu, collected N50m from terror leader — DSS

A Department of State Services (DSS) investigator on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that terrorist kingpin, Shugaba, offered Tukur Mamu a N50 million share from the ransom paid for victims of the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train attack.

Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness before Justice Mohammed Umar, the operative said the offer was captured in voice notes extracted from Mamu’s mobile devices after his arrest in Egypt and subsequent extradition to Nigeria.

According to the witness, the recordings also revealed that the terrorists asked Mamu to teach them how to create a website for their operations and requested his assistance in procuring speakers and a public-address system for their preaching activities.

He said one of the audio files featured Mamu fixing a delivery date for ransom payments, while another contained Shugaba thanking him and directing him to take N50 million “for his personal use” from a tranche of ransom.

The DSS operative told the court that Mamu submitted a Samsung tablet and two mobile phones upon arrival in Nigeria.

Forensic analysis of the devices produced the voice notes played in court.

The investigator further disclosed that, upon learning of his interception in Egypt, Mamu phoned his in-law, Mubarak Tinja, instructing him to remove cash, vehicles, and valuables from his Kaduna residence to prevent their discovery by security agencies.

A search later conducted on Mamu’s home and office led to the recovery of cash in local and foreign currencies, as well as several vehicles, including a Toyota Camry (Muscle), Peugeot 5008, Lexus, Mercedes E350, and a Hyundai.

Investigators also traced about $300,000 and multiple cars moved on Mamu’s orders. Vehicle documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.

The witness said Mamu admitted instructing his in-law to move the items and acknowledged communicating with the terrorists.

He also confirmed ownership of a pump-action gun recovered from his residence, though its licence had expired months before his arrest.

The court admitted compact disks and a flash drive containing the voice recordings, alongside eight statements made by Mamu and video footage of his interrogation sessions.

Written accounts from two kidnap victims were also admitted, though the victims declined to appear in court due to fear and trauma.

Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution will file a formal application for the court to inspect the recovered exhibits.

Justice Umar adjourned the trial to November 26 at 11 a.m. for continuation.