- FG Arrests Seven Suspected Boko Haram, ISWAP Commanders Returning From Hajj
- The suspects were identified through Nigeria’s integrated identity verification platform.
- Officials said the NIMC integration has strengthened national security operations.
The Federal Government has disclosed that seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested at Katsina Airport after returning from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, made the disclosure on Friday shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the minister, the suspects were identified immediately upon arrival through Nigeria’s integrated identity verification platform before they were arrested and 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 and international security platforms, including Interpol.
“We inherited a fragmented identity management system where government databases operated independently. Today, our immigration database is fully integrated with NIMC and linked to Interpol’s 24 hour security network.
“It was through this integrated platform that seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP returning from Mecca were identified at Katsina Airport last Thursday, arrested and handed over to the DSS,” he said.
The minister described the newly signed NIMC Act, 2026, as a major reform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s identity management system and improving collaboration among security and intelligence agencies.
He said the reforms would enhance the country’s ability to combat terrorism, identity fraud, financial crimes and other transnational offences.
Tunji Ojo also noted that the integrated identity system has improved the passport application process by ensuring that no Nigerian passport can be issued without proper identity verification through the NIMC database.
He added that the unified database has significantly strengthened border security and intelligence gathering by enabling security agencies to track high risk individuals across government platforms.
President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi and NIMC Director General Abisoye Coker Odusote.
