FACT CHECK: Did Tukur Mamu Name Terrorists’ Sponsors?

A post alleging that the Abuja-Kaduna train attack negotiator, Tukur Mamu, has named a former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau, and a former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, members of a syndicate sponsoring terrorism in Northern Nigeria has gone viral. The post which quoted News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as the source […]

A post alleging that the Abuja-Kaduna train attack negotiator, Tukur Mamu, has named a former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau, and a former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, members of a syndicate sponsoring terrorism in Northern Nigeria has gone viral.

The post which quoted News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as the source of the story was postes on Facebook and other platforms. It had generated several comments and shared over 100 times on Facebook alone as of the time of filing this report.

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The now viral post claiming that Mamu made the revelation during his interrogation by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) was also published by several blogs and online media outlets.

Part of the post with the caption, ‘TERRORISTS NEGOTIATOR, TUKUR MAMU, MAKES STARTLING REVELATIONS!” reads: “… As investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) continues on the arrested Abuja – Kaduna Train Attack Negotiator Tukur Mamu, the conflict entrepreneur has started making some shocking revelations of a syndicate responsible for terrorism in Northern and other parts of Nigeria.

“Among those Tukur Mamu mentioned include General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, a former National Security Adviser and an international SPY expert, a former Sokoto state governor Alh Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, as well as some clerics (names withheld, to be revealed soon.)…”

Verification

In verifying the claim, Daily Trust contacted a Senior Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who said the story did not emanate from the agency. A double check on NAN’s platform also showed that it was not posted there.

In the same vein, the spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, only said the outcome of investigation it carried out on Tukur Mamu was mind-boggling. He did not disclose any names as claimed in the Facebook post.

It should also be noted that no reputable media platforms carried the story, either online or in print.

Recall that Mamu was arrested last week in Cairo, Egypt in company with some of his family members on their way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, and brought back to Nigeria to answer questions bordering on his alleged involvement in banditry and terrorism activities.

Conclusion

Daily Trust can confirm that the claim that Tukur Mamu mentioned former NSA, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and ex-governor, Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa as sponsors of terrorism is false.

This fact check was produced in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)