Authorities search home, office of Nigerian train hostages negotiator

KANO, Nigeria (AA) – The Nigerian secret service searched the office and home of bandits negotiator, Tukur Mamu, early Thursday in northern Nigeria, an offical told Anadolu Agency.

Security operatives took laptops, phones and other documents from both locations. Mamu was arrested for his alleged involvement in collecting ransom and taking terrorists in exchange for kidnapped victims.

Spokesman of the Department of State Services (DSS), Peter Afunnaya, said the agency is questioning Mamu about security issues.

Afunnaya said in a statement late Wednesday that Mamu is a person of interest and was intercepted by foreign security partners in Cairo earlier that day while on his way to Saudi Arabia.

“Mamu has been . . . taken into the Service’s custody to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country. The public may wish to note that the law will appropriately take its course,” it said.

Mamu became the negotiator between bandits and families of abducted passengers of a Kaduna-bound passenger train that was attacked by bandits in March.