Seven suspected Boko Haram, ISWAP commanders arrested returning from hajj
Seven Boko Haram, ISWAP Commanders Arrested Upon Return from Hajj
KATSINA, Nigeria — Seven suspected commanders affiliated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested at Katsina Airport after returning from the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, authorities reported Friday.
The Federal Government characterized the arrests as a significant achievement facilitated by Nigeria’s integrated digital identity and security verification system. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the development shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, into law.
According to Minister Tunji-Ojo, the suspects were identified and apprehended immediately upon their arrival in Nigeria, utilizing the country’s integrated identity verification platform. Following their arrest, they were transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
The minister explained that the success of the operation was made possible through the integration of the NIMC database with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and international security networks, including Interpol.
“We inherited a fragmented identity management system where government databases operated independently. Today, our immigration database is fully integrated with NIMC and connected to Interpol’s 24-hour security network,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He added that seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP were identified and arrested at Katsina Airport last Thursday, thanks to the integrated platform.
President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act, 2026, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with notable officials in attendance, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi.
The minister described the new legislation as a crucial reform aimed at enhancing the harmonization of Nigeria’s identity management systems, improving the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN), and bolstering collaboration among security and intelligence agencies.
He noted that the reforms would enhance Nigeria’s capacity to combat terrorism, identity fraud, financial crimes, and other transnational offenses.
Additionally, Tunji-Ojo remarked that the integration has streamlined the passport application process, stating that no Nigerian passport can now be issued without proper identity verification through the NIMC database. This development has significantly improved border security and intelligence operations, enabling security agencies to access a unified identity system capable of tracking high-risk individuals across various government platforms.
