By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
An aide to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Tukur Mamu, has been arrested in Egypt.
Tukur Mamu has been leading negotiation with the terrorists holding the kidnapped passengers of a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja.
According to reports, Tukur Mamu was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj at the time he was arrested in Cairo, along with members of his family.
He was detained at the Cairo International Airport for 24 hours and is being repatriated back to Nigeria, according to a report by the Daily Trust.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Mamu said he left Nigeria Tuesday and after being investigated by the Egyptian security agencies, nothing incriminating was found in his possession.
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Mamu insinuated a plan by the Nigerian government to detain him in another country just as was done to the self-acclaimed Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, but that could not happen because the Egyptian government found that his papers were genuine.
Through Tukur Mamu’s negotiation with the terrorists holding the passengers, many of them have been released, but not without paying hefty sums in ransom. At least N100 million was allegedly paid for each of the released hostages.
Mamu had earlier announced pulling out of the negotiation with bandits after alleging that the Nigerian government was threatening him.