SaharaReporters had reported how he was arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Wednesday afternoon.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has challenged security operatives to arrest those aiding and abetting banditry and insurgency in Nigeria.
The association disclosed this while reacting to the arrest of Malam Tukur Mamu, a former negotiator of the kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna-bound train.
Terrorists on March 28, 2022, had kidnapped scores of passengers from an Abuja-Kaduna train. At least eight passengers were also killed while several others were injured in the attack.
Mamu is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Desert Herald Newspaper.
SaharaReporters had reported how he was arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Wednesday afternoon.
The Kaduna-based published who was first arrested in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, was detained for 24 hours before being flown to Nigeria.
The DSS in a statement issued through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, had said the agency was questioning him over security issues.
It said that it recovered several incriminating materials, including military accoutrements from his residence.
Reacting in a statement on Friday, NANS Vice-President (External), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, asked security agencies to investigate thoroughly the activities of the suspect.
The statement read, “As a security conscious association, the leadership of Nigerian students under the auspice of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has received with enthusiasm the news of the arrest of one Alhaji Tukur Mamu who happens to be the lead negotiator between bandits and the passengers kidnapped from a Kaduna-bound train in March 2022.
“Mr Tukur was apprehended few days ago in Cairo, Egypt. His apprehension speaks volume and of course is a direct implication of how formidable the security network is in Nigeria and in Africa at large; this is highly commendable and applaudable.
“As much as we commend the efforts of security agencies/forces; it is expedient to at the same time charge them on the need to investigate further and thoroughly the activities of the intermediary.
“Without mincing words, we charge the security personnel to put in more effort in nabbing individuals or groups responsible for such odious acts and bringing them to book without considering their status inasmuch as they are aiding and abetting banditry and insurgency in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the continent at large.”
The office of the NANS VP External also commiserated with the United Kingdom over the death yesterday of British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth ll, who passed away at the age of 96 after a brief illness.
“The national leadership of National Association of Nigerian students (NANS),the apex student association & representative body in Nigeria; the largest students’ movement in Africa (black race) and the umbrella body of all students' organisation in Nigeria committed to the struggle for the greater interests of all Nigerian students both home and diaspora (globally) received with shock the grievous news of the demise of Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary II who until her death was the Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms,” the statement read.
“No doubt, this a terrifying news to the global constituency of NANS considering how active, healthy, agile and of course how tolerant and impactful the Queen was even in her old age, as such we find it imperative to condole with the royal family in the United Kingdom.”
“Realistically, records have shown and time has proven that many blacks especially Nigerians are doing extremely well in the United Kingdom; this alone speaks volume about the late Queen's large heart and her ability to embrace unity void of racism.
“This alone is a dream come true because the words and dream of the late freedom fighter, Reverend Dr Martin Luther king Jr that goes thus "I have a dream that one day my children (blacks) will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" is manifest and evident during the late Queen's reign (this alone makes her memory a blessed one).”