Katsina Airport Sees Arrest of Seven Alleged Boko Haram, ISWAP Chiefs Post-Hajj

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria's Minister of Interior, has confirmed the apprehension of seven individuals believed to be commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These arrests occurred at Katsina airport as the suspects were returning from the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The Minister stated that Nigeria’s advanced integrated identity management system facilitated their capture, after which they were transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking at the State House in Abuja, Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted this successful operation as a clear indicator of the Federal Government's effective reforms in identity management and border security. His comments followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's assent to the 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, transforming it into law.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained that this new legislation marks a significant achievement, poised to bolster Nigeria’s internal security infrastructure and enhance citizens' access to various government services. He acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited a disjointed identity management system where essential government databases functioned in isolation, but emphasized that substantial reforms have since unified these critical platforms.

The Minister elaborated, stating, “With this law, our security architecture can be enhanced. When Mr. President came on board, we had a disconnected system within our identity data management system. At that time, getting a passport and getting a driving permit were completely disconnected from our identity database. But today, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC. What you have in immigration is what you have in the NIMC database, and let me say this clearly, that it has even helped our border control process. I know, sometime ago, the Senate President was alarmed by how some terrorists went on pilgrimage, wondering how they crossed our borders. We inherited a fractured system. But I’m happy to tell you that even last week, Thursday, seven of the known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP at the point of coming back from Mecca were arrested in Katsina at the airport and were handed over to the DSS. This is only possible because NIMC’s ID is already connected with the immigration database, and it’s already speaking to even the Interpol 24/7, and we have been able to automate this.”

Dr. Tunji-Ojo’s revelation comes shortly after Dr. Bashir Kurfi, speaking on a Trust TV program, accused the Katsina State Government of sponsoring certain non-state actors for the Hajj pilgrimage. The Katsina State Government vehemently refuted these claims, labeling them as untrue and deceptive.

Nasir Mua'zu, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, issued a statement asserting that Dr. Kurfi’s claims lacked merit and were designed to sabotage current efforts to tackle insecurity within the state. Mua'zu stated, “The allegation is entirely baseless, unfounded and devoid of any factual basis. It is a deliberate falsehood aimed at misleading the public and undermining the ongoing efforts of the government and security agencies in addressing security challenges across the state.”

The Katsina State Government voiced its apprehension that these allegations were being spread precisely when security agencies, backed by the state, were achieving notable successes against banditry and other criminal operations. The government further suggested that the claims intended to distract public attention from these recent security achievements and sow distrust among the populace.

The statement concluded by accusing certain individuals and groups of politicizing security matters for their own personal and political agendas. It suggested their dissatisfaction stemmed from the government's refusal to endorse what it termed "questionable schemes" aimed at siphoning public funds meant for developmental projects.