Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspapers, has been detained by Nigerian authorities since September 2022, facing charges of terrorism financing. Despite the severity of the allegations, there has been an unsettling silence from bodies like the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and civil society organisations. Whether guilty or innocent, Mamu deserves a fair trial, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Mamu’s arrest occurred while he was en route to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj. He, along with his two wives and another individual, was detained in Cairo and swiftly extradited to Nigeria. Upon arrival, the Department of State Services (DSS) took him into custody, and his home and office were searched. Despite finding nothing incriminating, he was accused of involvement in terrorism financing, largely based on allegations of delivering ransom payments to ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja Kaduna train attack in 2022.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) claims that Mamu facilitated ransom payments totaling $200,000. In response, Mamu denies all allegations and maintains that his role was purely humanitarian, acting as a negotiator for the hostages' release. He was, after all, a close associate of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a respected cleric who has mediated with criminal elements in an effort to broker peace. Gumi himself has defended Mamu, dismissing claims of his involvement in terrorism and attributing the government's actions to a misunderstanding.
Mamu’s role in the train hostage negotiation is being used to paint him as a terrorist collaborator. However, this interpretation disregards the complex reality of hostage negotiations, particularly in regions rife with insecurity. Western nations, often staunch opponents of terrorism, have occasionally paid ransoms and used local intermediaries to secure the release of their citizens. The Nigerian government itself has reportedly paid ransoms in similar situations.
Mamu’s involvement, facilitated with the consent of Nigerian authorities, was a selfless act. His only motivation, as his defenders argue, was to save lives and ease the anguish of the hostages’ families. Money may have changed hands during the negotiation, but to accuse him of terrorism for delivering ransoms is an oversimplification of the events.
Tukur Mamu has been detained in the DSS underground bunker in Abuja for over two years without a fair and transparent trial. As journalists and advocates for human rights, we must call for either a proper, speedy trial or his release. If there is insufficient evidence to support the charges against him, the government must drop them.
A fair trial is the bedrock of justice. Prolonged detention without trial undermines this principle and violates the rights guaranteed to every citizen, including those accused of serious crimes. Whether guilty or innocent, Mamu must be given his day in court.
At this point, the federal government and the DSS need to make a decisive move: subject Mamu to a fair and transparent trial or set him free. Prolonging his detention without a conclusion does not serve justice. It is time for Nigeria to act in line with international human rights standards and ensure Mamu receives the justice he deserves.