Terrorists kidnapped scores of passengers on a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022, of which Mamu has negotiated for the release of some of them.
On Thursday, heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the residence and office of the negotiator between terrorists and Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, Tukur Mamu, carting away computers and documents.
Terrorists kidnapped scores of passengers on a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022, of which Mamu has negotiated for the release of some of them.
SaharaReporters learnt that DSS operatives early Thursday morning laid siege to the home and office of Mamu, who is also the Editor-In-Chief of Desert Herald Newspaper.
A family source said about 50 heavily armed DSS personnel stormed the house around 12:30 am in commando style and turned the house and office upside down as they searched the entire compound.
"We were awakened by the pandemonium that announced the arrival of the officers who came in a large motorcade and were armed to the teeth.
"They conducted a random search in the house and his office but nothing incriminating or suspicious was found.
"But they seized all our handheld gadgets and computers. We are still in trauma and shock over this intimidation. We call on conscientious Nigerians not to allow this injustice to prevail.
"This is a man who puts his life at stake for the sake of others, yet all he could get was harassment, intimidation and threats to life. This can only happen in a country that has suppressed the rule of law and rights of its citizens," the family source said.
The family source, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, fear of persecution alleged that the DSS operatives did not show any search warrant before the raid and conducted the exercise with zero regards for the rule of law and professionalism.
"We are afraid these people can deliberately incriminate Tukur Mamu. The manner they conducted the night operation was anything but professional. They didn't show us any search warrant and entered the rooms of the wives of the publisher, and completely frisked them against Islamic rule. Up till now, they are still gripped by deep shock and trauma.
"It is curious to note that the siege was carried out in the absence of any adult member of the family. And after they were done, they forced one of the children to append his signatures on a document they prepared.
“They did not even give him the privilege to read the content. We are deeply afraid over the life of Malam Tukur Mamu because the desperation and unprofessional conduct of DSS personnel is a pointer to the extent they can go in incriminating the publisher," he said.