Nigeria’s security agencies have arrested seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at the Katsina Airport after they returned from the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The Federal Government described the arrest as a major intelligence breakthrough, attributing the success to the integration of Nigeria’s digital identity and border security systems.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the development on Friday, shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, into law.
According to the minister, the suspects were detected upon arrival in Nigeria on Thursday and were immediately taken into custody before being transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the arrests were made possible through the connection of the NIMC database with the Nigeria Immigration Service and international security networks, including Interpol.
He said the improved system has enabled security agencies to identify and track individuals considered high-risk as they pass through Nigeria’s entry points.
The minister noted that the country previously operated a fragmented identity management structure where government databases worked separately, but the new framework has improved intelligence sharing and security coordination.
“Today, our immigration database is fully integrated with NIMC and linked to Interpol’s 24-hour security network,” Tunji-Ojo said, adding that the development has strengthened Nigeria’s ability to combat terrorism and other cross-border crimes.
President Tinubu signed the amended NIMC Act at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with key government officials including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote in attendance.
The government said the new law would enhance identity verification, improve cooperation among security agencies, and support the fight against terrorism, fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes.
Officials also stated that the reforms would make passport processing more secure by ensuring applicants are properly verified through the national identity database before approval.
However, authorities have not disclosed the identities of the arrested suspects or revealed whether they have been formally charged, as investigations by the DSS continue.
