Alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, reportedly lived above his means after he received the sum of N50 million from ‘Shugaba’, the leader of the group involved in the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack and abduction of passengers, a witness of the Department of State Services (DSS) has said.
Mamu is facing charges bordering on terrorism offences, including receiving ransoms from families of victims of the Kaduna train attack of March 28, 2022, dealing with terrorist funds, obstructing the activities of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) committee to negotiate with those who kept hostage victims of the attack, and exchanging voice notes with Boko Haram spokesperson, among others.
At the continuing trial this week, the sixth prosecution witness, who was shielded from the public, testified that investigation showed that while negotiations were ongoing, Mamu’s “lifestyle suddenly change and was living way above his means.”
The witness further testified that Mamu encouraged the terrorists to negotiate the ransom payment with victims’ families and cut off the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Committee which had the mandate to do so.
He said, “That the defendant did not share the voice notes that he used in negotiating with the terrorists with other members of the CDS Committee.”
When the prosecution counsel, Kaswe sought further clarification on Mamu’s lifestyle, the witness said he sponsored four of his relatives on a trip to Egypt and bought two flashy cars during the period of the negotiations.
While being cross-examined by Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), the DSS investigator admitted that he did not sight any invitation extended to Mamu by the DSS.
Justice Mohammed Umar has adjourned the matter to January 29, 2026, for continuation of trial.
