Management of the Desert Herald newspaper, has claimed that the Department of State Services is trying to frame its publisher Malam Tukur Mamu.
The DSS said it searched the house of the ‘terrorist negotiator and found military equipment and other items which made Malam Mamu a person of interest in their investigations into various acts of terrorism in the country.
“So far, appropriate security agencies have executed valid search warrants on Mamu’s residence and office,”
“During the processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered.
“Other items include large amounts in different currencies and denominations as well as financial transaction instruments. While further investigations continue, Mamu will, sure, have a day in court,” DSS spokesman Mr Peter Afunanya said
But according to a statement released Friday by Desert Herald Newspaper head of special operations Ibrahim Wada, the DSS claim was far from the truth.
“We view this deliberate distortion of facts to twist narratives about Tukur Mamu with an exception.
“The department made allusions that military accoutrements and hard currency were found in the home of Tukur Mamu to sway public opinion against the publisher who has made supreme sacrifices towards fixing the raging insecurity in the land.
“The public may wish to know that the military accoutrements found in the home of the publisher belong to his nephew who is an officer of the Nigerian Navy. Tukur Mamu who played the role of a father, was responsible for the upkeep and school expenses of the nephew till he enrolled in the Nigerian Navy.
“Again in its desperation to smear the name of Mamu, the DSS said it has found a huge amount of hard currency without stating how much it found. It is incumbent for the general public to know that the total amount of the hard currency found in Mamu’s house if converted into naira is less that N1.5m, yet the DSS is trying to make the situation look bad by saying a huge haul of hard currency was found in his house.
“This distortion of information and media trial against Mamu is a pointer to the desperation of the DSS to rope the man at all cost for the sacrifices he is making to ensure an end to the raging insecurity in the land,” the statement said
