₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b5OEAV22_Q?si=wflRwRdTEfSeMWgB

"...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..."

By Oladayo Jonathan


Security agencies last week arrested seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as they returned from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina State, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced on Friday.

Mr Tunji-Ojo disclosed the development at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.

According to the minister, the suspects were intercepted at the Katsina airport on Thursday last week and handed over to the State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS).

“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,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister did not disclose the identities of the suspects, whether they had been on security watchlists before travelling to Saudi Arabia, how they obtained travel clearance or whether they have been formally charged. He also did not indicate whether the suspects had travelled on Nigerian passports or whether they had previously been on any domestic or international watchlists.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately obtain independent confirmation from the SSS, which the minister said had taken custody of the suspects, or from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as of the time of this report.


Caught by technology

Mr Tunji-Ojo attributed the arrests to improvements in Nigeria’s integrated digital identity and border management system, saying the country’s biometric identity database now communicates with immigration records and international security platforms.

“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,” he said.

The minister said the Tinubu administration inherited fragmented identity management systems that limited information sharing across government agencies.

“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.”

He said the integration has strengthened coordination among government databases and improved the country’s ability to identify persons of security interest attempting to cross Nigeria’s borders.


NIMC Act gets presidential assent

President Tinubu on Friday signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, repealing the National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007 and introducing a new legal framework for Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.

Government officials said the legislation strengthens the legal foundation of the National Identification Number (NIN) system and expands NIMC’s role in secure digital identity management.

According to NIMC, the new law designates the commission as Nigeria’s Root Certification Authority for the National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), providing the legal framework for secure electronic authentication and trusted data exchange across government institutions and authorised private-sector platforms.

Officials said the reforms are intended to improve identity verification, reduce identity fraud, strengthen border management and enhance coordination among security agencies.

The signing ceremony was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote and other senior government officials.

Mr Akpabio said the National Assembly subjected the legislation to extensive scrutiny and international benchmarking before its passage.


Fresh questions over Hajj screening

The minister’s disclosure is likely to raise fresh questions about how the suspects were able to undertake the pilgrimage and what level of security screening was conducted before they departed Nigeria.

The revelation also comes days after allegations circulated that the Katsina State Government sponsored Hajj pilgrimages for some bandit leaders.

The Katsina State Government has denied the allegations, describing them as false, baseless and politically motivated. In a statement issued earlier this week, the state’s Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs said there was no evidence that the government sponsored any individual involved in banditry or other criminal activities for the pilgrimage.

Mr Tunji-Ojo did not suggest that the seven suspects arrested at the Katsina airport were among any government-sponsored pilgrims, nor did he link their arrests to the allegations against the Katsina State Government.

Across Nigeria, many Muslim pilgrims sponsor their own Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, while others are sponsored by wealthy individuals, state governments and the federal government.

Security experts have long advocated stronger integration of national identity, immigration and intelligence databases to improve the detection of wanted persons attempting to cross Nigeria’s borders or travel internationally.

Friday’s disclosure marks one of the clearest public examples offered by the federal government of how integrated digital identity systems are being deployed to support counterterrorism and border security operations.

More official details, including the identities of the suspects and any criminal charges against them, are expected in the coming days

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/891007-updated-nigeria-arrests-seven-boko-haram-iswap-commanders-returning-from-hajj-minister-says.html

Ready to be reintegrated back into the society and call them repentant

Which kind thrash talk be dis, praising self over negligence.
How were they able to get NIN, Passport and then leave the country?
Was there no background check for those going on pilgrimage considering that they mostly go in group with govt facilitating their ease of movement a

If to say Sahara reporters no expose the fact that you people sponsor bandit leaders to hajj, una for arrest dem?

You can continue fooling yourselves, at the end we shall know who is fooling who.. mtcheww..

OlujobaSamuel:
Which kind thrash talk be dis, praising self over negligence.
How were they able to get NIN, Passport and then leave the country?
Was there no background check for those going on pilgrimage considering that they mostly go in group with govt facilitating their ease of movement a

Nigeria is a funny country

chicfarmer:
If to say Sahara reporters no expose the fact that you people sponsor bandit leaders to hajj, una for arrest dem?

You can continue fooling yourselves, at the end we shall know who is fooling who.. mtcheww..

For them to sponsor the bandit leaders tells a lot about the government relationship with bandits

What is the essence of arresting north terrorist when they will still be reinter grate into society with uniforms and compensation

We have advised them to relocate to other country and not coming back.

They will learn in a bitter way

https://www.nairaland.com/8690200/insecurity-these-people-should-planning

How the hell did they even get issued passports in the first place ?

How did they get visas for Hajj?

How did they even get past screening on their first leg to Mecca?

That is why we say islam and terrorism are inseperable, imagine islamic terrorists going to the so called Haji, to do what exactly,

Later una go carry them put for Army.

Idi0ts

Both Hallah and Hahwey are middle East deities that are blvvd thirsty.
Hinduism and Buddhism are religions of peace.
Abrahamic religions are characterised by angry and killer gods.
As both their holy books endorses killing.
There are some verses of the Quran that if I post them here, the mods will pull them down and even 🚫
Psychopath gods with psychopath adherents.

Boko Haram get mind to apply for visa, buy flight ticket, go to airport, depart from Nigeria, come still get mind fly back into Nigeria.

Is this not wonderful?

Put it straight!

Nigeria arrests Boko Haram commanders for onward rehabilitation and reintegration into the society


Yeye


Which Northern governor was allegedly said to have sponsored their trips again?

They will soon be released back into society.

These ones even have time to go to Mecca.

They will be tagged not only repentant but spiritual Boko Haram

I dey tell you say northerners get special privileges for this country called Nigeria

helinues:
We have advised them to relocate to other country and not coming back.

They will learn in a bitter way

https://www.nairaland.com/8690200/insecurity-these-people-should-planning

You are here writing nonsense. A joke on you and your leaders. If the exposure wasn't made last week, this arrest (which I doubt) wouldn't have been possible. Fake government

Arrest, repent, rehabilitate, reestablished and reintegrated back into the society.

Normal levels for Nigeria.

Pictures or na lie. When their was news already that a certain Governor in the North actually sponsored the trip. A responsive government will unseat that governor.

I smell a very big lie here, As lie as tinubu saying he graduated from Chicago University

How were they able to even leave Nigeria in the first place?

agulion:
That is why we say islam and terrorism are inseperable, imagine islamic terrorists going to the so called Haji, to do what exactly,

to go learn more about terrorism.

it was said that some states governors sponsored to the haji.
so what will happen to those sponsoring terrorists.

the north know what it's doing

To be freed as repentant individuals tomorrow and the business continues

APc can't fool me

Really...😂. Tell us More bout this subject.

How were they able to leave ?

The minister is just being half clever. You claim you inherited a fractured system. This govt came into power 3 years ago.

The arrests were made last week as you claimed. They went on Hajj. You were minister of interior when they embarked upon Hajj. Why couldn’t you make an arrest at the point of departure with all the security architecture you said you have put in place?

All terrorists are Muslims but not all Muslims are terrorists..

Explain 5marks

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂,my brother na the magic be dat

DomPerignon:
How the hell did they even get issued passports in the first place ?

How did they get visas for Hajj?

How did they even get past screening on their first leg to Mecca?

But they said they are not Muslims. I pity Yoruba people romancing this religion.

All na Lamba😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂, One day all that is hidden to the gullible Nigerians will blow out in a proportion that will shock you all.

Dogalmighty17:
How were they able to even leave Nigeria in the first place?

Lol












Trump even enter Nigeria come dey hunt xxxxxxxx












God bless Nigeria!

Audio ! You mean the same hajj that your government sponsored!? Jokers!!

Nigerian government and their love for mp3 !!.