A team of the Department of State Service
raided the residence of Malam Tukur Mamu, the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert
Herald and Media Consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,
who withdrew as one of the negotiators between the terrorists that attacked the
March 28 Abuja-Kaduna bound AK-9 train passengers.
A source familiar with the matter told one
of our correspondents that the heavily armed DSS personnel stormed Mamu’s
residence and the office of the Desert Herald Newspaper at about 12:30 am on
Thursday.
It was gathered that the officers ransacked
every nook and cranny of the house and carted away laptops, phones and
documents.
The sources, however, said nothing
incriminating was found in both the residence as well as the office.
According to him, no fewer than 50 heavily
armed operatives in Toyota Hilux, Toyota Highlander as well as military
vehicles raided both the residence and office.
He added that the two wives of the
ex-negotiator that were with him when he was arrested, were brought back to the
house, but his two sons “are still with him in detention.”
He said, “The heavily armed operatives came
and they searched everywhere both at the residence and his office but nothing
suspicious was found during the operation that started at about 12.30am.
“Over 50 of them came in, fully armed with
sophisticated weapons in Army vehicles, Toyota Hilux, and Toyota Highlander.
“Two wives that were with him (Mamu) were
returned but his two sons, Faisal and Ibrahim are still with him in
detention.
“They seized our phones and laptops
computers.”