The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says seven suspected commanders linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province were arrested at Katsina airport while returning from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
According to the minister, the arrests were made possible through an integrated security system connecting the databases of the National Identity Management Commission, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Interpol.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed this shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law on Friday.
The minister said the suspects were intercepted on arrival after security agencies detected them through the newly integrated identity and immigration verification system.
He explained that the linkage between NIMC records, immigration data, and Interpol watchlists now allows authorities to monitor travellers more effectively and identify persons of security interest in real time.
Tunji-Ojo also announced that the federal government has completed an Integrated Operations Centre (IOC), which he described as the first coordinated internal security monitoring hub in Nigeria’s history.
According to him, the centre is designed to improve surveillance and coordination across the country’s air and maritime borders.
He added that the suspects allegedly believed they could travel and return undetected, but were picked up immediately upon arrival and later transferred to Abuja.
The development comes days after President Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026, a law aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure and integrating identity verification into national security operations.
Under the new framework, NIMC is expected to play a central role in Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and National Public Key Infrastructure, supporting secure identity management across government agencies.
What remains unverified
As of the time of reporting, security agencies had not publicly released the identities of the suspects or provided independent evidence linking them to Boko Haram or ISWAP. The claims remain those of the Minister of Interior.
-
Hajj security screening: The case highlights increased scrutiny of international travel by persons flagged in security databases.
-
Digital identity integration: It showcases how Nigeria’s new identity framework is being positioned as a tool for counterterrorism and border security.
-
Border surveillance: The government says the IOC will enhance monitoring of airports and seaports nationwide.
