FG: Seven Boko Haram, ISWAP commanders arrested at Katsina airport after Hajj

The Federal Government says seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested at the Katsina airport while returning from the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the State House, Abuja, shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.

According to the minister, the suspects were intercepted at the airport last Thursday and subsequently handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).

Tunji-Ojo attributed the arrests to the integration of Nigeria’s identity management system with the immigration database and international security platforms, describing it as a major outcome of the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

He said the administration inherited a fragmented identity management system in which agencies operated separate databases, making it difficult to effectively track individuals across government platforms.

“When Mr. President came on board, we had a disconnected identity management system. At that time, getting a passport and obtaining a driver’s licence were completely disconnected from our identity database. Today, you cannot get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC,” he said.

The minister explained that the integration of the National Identity Management Commission database with the Nigeria Immigration Service and Interpol has significantly improved Nigeria’s border control capabilities.

“Last Thursday, seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP were arrested at Katsina airport while returning from Mecca and were handed over to the DSS. This was only possible because the NIMC database is now connected to the immigration database and communicates with Interpol 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he added.

Tunji-Ojo said the newly signed NIMC Act would further strengthen the harmonisation of identity databases, improve the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN), enhance collaboration among government agencies and bolster efforts to combat terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes and other security threats.

His remarks come amid recent controversy over allegations that some non-state actors were sponsored for the Hajj pilgrimage by the Katsina State Government.

The allegation, made by security analyst Dr. Bashir Kurfi during a programme on Trust TV, was dismissed by the Katsina State Government.

In a statement, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mua’zu, described the claim as false and unfounded, insisting it was an attempt to mislead the public and undermine ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.

He said the allegation came at a time when security agencies, working with the state government, were recording significant successes against banditry and other criminal activities.

Mua’zu further accused some individuals of politicising security issues and attempting to distract attention from the progress achieved in the state’s security operations.