Crime
Tukur Mamu is a terror financier, DSS tells court
The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday told a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja that its preliminary investigation established that hostage negotiator, Tukur Mamu, is a terror sponsor.
In an affidavit in support of its ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 and filed before the court, the DSS also described Mamu as a logistic supplier to both local and foreign terror groups.
The security agency added that Mamu,who had been leading negotiations with the abductors of the Kaduna-bound train passengers March 28, was on his to a meeting with foreign terrorist leaders before his interception last week.
He was arrested on September 6 in Cairo, Egypt, with his two wives and deported. They were picked up on arrival at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano by operatives of the DSS.
His wives were later released by the operatives, who after ransacking his home and office, announced the recovery of incriminating materials, including military accoutrements.
Presiding Justice Evelyn Maha yesterday granted the motion ex-parte by counsel for the DSS, Ahmed Magaji. The motion sought an order to detain Mamu, who is the publisher of Desert Herald, for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The motion, dated September 12, was filed by U.N. Dauda, a lawyer with the security outfit.
The accompanying affidavit was deposed to by an official, Hamza Pandogari.
In the affidavit, Pandogari said: “Mamu was intercepted by Nigerian foreign partners on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organisations across the globe.”
He added: “Upon his interception, and subsequent repatriation back to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office and home in Sabon Kawo, GRA and Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.
“The self-acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator (Mamu) exploited the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abet as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations.
“Preliminary investigation so far established, amongst others, the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism as well as terrorism financing against him.
“The defendant (Mamu) has used the cover of his profession as a journalist to aid both local and international terrorist groups.
“The action of the defendant has orchestrated the untimely death of several security personnel in Northcentral and Northeast parts of Nigeria.
“The defendant has discreetly given several information to bandits and terrorists that escalated various acts of terrorism in Nigeria.
“The investigation has assumed a wider dimension and sophistication requiring time and advance expertise to conclude.
“Some of the suspects working with the defendant are at large and premature release of the defendant will jeopardise the ongoing investigation.
“The activities of the defendant and his associates at large constitute a potent threat to the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.”
The DSS listed some of the items it recovered from Manu’s residence and office to include $151, £20, 1, 530 Indian Rupees; one Saudi Riyald; 70 Dirham; N1,560,000 and 16 assorted foreign coins.
Others are two packs of pump action cartridges; 16 ATM cards of both local and foreign banks; seven cheque books of different banks; six laptops; four tablets; 24 handsets and three international passports belonging to Mamu; one firearm licence; eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms and 16 pieces of Nigerian Navy uniforms.
Nation
A young man suspected of attempting to steal cables from a transformer was found dead after reportedly being electrocuted along Trademore Road in Lugbe, Abuja, in the early hours of Friday.
The deceased was reportedly found crouched and lifeless near the transformer, with his body said to have become stiff, suggesting he may have been electrocuted when power was restored.
Residents said there had been no electricity supply in the area on Thursday night before the incident occurred.
The discovery attracted a crowd of residents, who expressed concern over the increasing activities of cable vandals in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Rasheed Ogunyemi, a resident of Iddo Seriki along the Airport Road, said residents in his area often contribute money to repair their transformer, only for vandals to return and cut the cables.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, stating that the deceased’s body had been evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Gwagwalada for autopsy.
More than 60 worshippers are feared to have been kidnapped from the Central Mosque in Dekara town, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during Jumu’at prayers on Friday.
The incident occurred when suspected terrorists, said to be operating in large numbers, stormed the mosque while the prayers were ongoing.
According to sources, the attackers fired several shots before rounding up some of the worshippers and taking them into the surrounding forest.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Borgu Local Government Area witnessed several security incidents on Friday, including attacks on three communities.
“So many things happened in Borgu LGA on Friday. Terrorists attacked three communities, including Dekara. In Dekara, they went to the Central Mosque while Jumu’at prayer was ongoing and kidnapped more than 60 people. But they did not injure anybody,” the resident said.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, has died after reportedly collapsing during a party reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the council headquarters.
Solomon reportedly slumped suddenly while participating in the meeting convened on Friday by a former Ijumu council chairman, Funsho Olumoko, as part of efforts to resolve internal disagreements and promote unity among APC stakeholders in the area.
An eyewitness said the incident caused confusion among participants, who immediately attempted to revive the party chairman before rushing him to a hospital in Kabba.
He reportedly died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The development shocked party leaders and other stakeholders who had gathered for the reconciliation meeting, which was aimed at strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting was expected to bring together party leaders, ward and local government executives, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from the 15 wards in Ijumu.
The incident occurred amid renewed efforts by APC stakeholders in the council to resolve longstanding disagreements and restore unity within the local chapter.
Earlier in the month, party leaders in Ijumu had endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, for second terms.
However, that gathering was reportedly disrupted by disagreements over the leadership of the local government, with Solomon and some other officials said to have walked out of the meeting.
Olumoko, who organised Friday’s reconciliation meeting, had previously been mandated by the Ijumu Consultative Forum to facilitate dialogue among political stakeholders in the council.
Solomon’s sudden death is expected to create fresh uncertainty around the ongoing reconciliation efforts within the Ijumu APC, coming barely two weeks after stakeholders renewed calls for unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The cause of his death had not been officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report, while efforts to obtain an official reaction from the APC were ongoing.
Tension and grief have gripped the political community in Enugu State following the suspected murder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairman in Udenu Local Government Area, Chisimdiri Emmanuel Ngwu.
Ngwu, described as one of the longest-serving members of the ADC in the state, was reportedly found dead in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, under circumstances that have raised concerns among his family, friends and political associates.
A family source told our correspondent that Ngwu woke up early on Wednesday, left the house and never returned alive.
The source said the family became worried after they noticed he was missing, only to later discover his lifeless body outside the compound.
“We woke up and didn’t see him, only to discover his lifeless body in front of our compound,” the source said.
The source further alleged that scratches were found around Ngwu’s neck and that his neck appeared to have been twisted backwards, raising suspicions about the circumstances of his death.
The incident has sparked concern within the ADC in Udenu and the wider political community in Enugu State, with calls for security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
Meanwhile, two persons have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.
Their identities and the specific circumstances surrounding their arrest were not immediately known as of press time.
Ngwu’s death has since sent shock waves through the ADC, with party members and associates mourning his death and demanding a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area, two days after he was reported missing.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who said the breakthrough followed a coordinated search and investigation by police operatives, local vigilantes and members of the deceased’s family.
Madu was reported missing by his wife on August 18, after he reportedly left home on the evening of August 17 and failed to return.
According to the Command, the search for the missing man took a grim turn later that day when his wife returned to the police station to report that he had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.
Police operatives immediately mobilised to the scene, where they found Madu’s lifeless body with a deep axe wound to his head. His remains were subsequently evacuated and deposited at a hospital mortuary for preservation.
Following the discovery, detectives intensified their investigation and arrested the deceased’s 32-year-old friend, Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, who allegedly confessed to being involved in the planning of the killing.
Preliminary findings by the Command indicated that Nwankwo allegedly obtained money from Madu through fraudulent means, claiming he would assist him in acquiring a piece of land.
Police alleged that the suspect subsequently engaged two other persons to eliminate Madu in an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transaction and prevent the victim from recovering the money.
The Command said two other suspects linked to the alleged plot were also arrested, bringing the number of persons apprehended in connection with the case to four.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, has directed investigators to intensify the probe and identify every person involved in the alleged conspiracy and murder.
The CP vowed that all persons found culpable would be brought to justice.
The Command, through Ikenga, assured residents that it would continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnerships to prevent violent crimes, uncover criminal networks and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
Headline
-
Politics3 days agoAwkunanaw Clan gives ‘Ofo’ to their son, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the NDC 2027 Enugu state Guber candidate
-
Foreign5 days agoUS Court Sets August 21 Deadline for Release of Documents Linked to Tinubu’s Drug Case
-
Politics5 days ago2027: NDC’s Kevin Chukwu Vows to Win Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency Seat
-
Crime5 days agoMan Electrocuted While Allegedly Vandalising Transformer in Enugu
-
News5 days agoHon. Atu Flags-Off Completion of Ndafufa-Ugwuaji–Obeagu Link Road Meant To Further Open Enugu
-
Politics3 days agoHon. Chief Kevin Tobias Chukwu: Bringing Enterprise, Experience and Grassroots Leadership to Ezza South/Ikwo
-
News5 days agoASCSN urges shift from confrontation to collaboration in labour relations
-
Politics4 days ago2027: Kevin Chukwu Challenges Chinedu Ogah, Says Ezza South/Ikwo Deserves a Fresh Direction