- Seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders were arrested after Hajj
- Tunji Ojo linked the arrest to Nigeria’s identity database system
- The suspects were detained at Katsina Airport and handed to the DSS
The Federal Government has announced the arrest of seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) upon their return from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, describing the operation as a major success of Nigeria’s improved identity management system.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law. His remarks were contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
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According to the minister, the suspects were apprehended last Thursday at Katsina Airport shortly after arriving from Mecca and were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
Tunji Ojo attributed the arrests to the successful integration of the National Identity Management Commission database with the Nigeria Immigration Service system and its connection to the Interpol network.
He explained that the upgraded identity management system now enables security agencies to instantly identify and intercept individuals flagged on international and domestic watchlists.
The minister recalled concerns previously raised over how suspected terrorists had travelled for religious pilgrimages despite security measures, noting that the current administration inherited a fragmented identity management structure.
He said, “Last week, seven known Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders were arrested at Katsina Airport while returning from Mecca and handed over to the DSS. This was possible because the NIMC database is now integrated with the immigration system and linked to Interpol around the clock.”
Tunji Ojo stated that the newly signed NIMC Act would further strengthen Nigeria’s security framework by improving coordination among government agencies and accelerating the harmonisation of identity databases.
He noted that the law would also enhance the integrity of the National Identity Number system while improving the country’s ability to tackle terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes and other security threats.
The minister added that before the present administration, key government services operated independently without access to a unified identity database.
According to him, obtaining a passport or driver’s licence was previously disconnected from the national identity system, but that has now changed.
“Today, no Nigerian passport can be issued without first verifying the applicant’s details through the NIMC database,” he said.
President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu and other senior government officials at the Presidential Villa.
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