Five security officers have been arrested and are set to face prosecution over their alleged involvement in a security breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 2026, in an incident authorities say involved former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement made available to newmen on Tuesday, authorities confirmed that the arrests followed a joint investigation into what was described as a serious compromise of airport security protocols. The statement, titled “Arrest and Prosecution of Security Officers Compromised by Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for the 12th February 2026 Security Breach,” detailed the outcome of the probe.
According to the statement, the investigation was conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
“At the end of a joint investigation by DSS, NIS, NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, five officers have been detained,” the statement read.
The detained officers were identified as Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) of the Police, Murtala Inuwa of the DSS, Najeeb Murtala (ASI) of the NIS, Musa Adamu of Aviation Security, and Salihu Victor of AVSEC.
Authorities stated that the officers had confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into restricted areas and to obstruct lawful security operations. “They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into Restricted Areas, to obstruct lawful security operations in an unprecedented manner,” the statement said.
The suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for prosecution.
The statement added that other personnel from the NIS and NCS whose involvement was deemed non-criminal would still face disciplinary measures. “Others from NIS and NCS whose involvement is not criminal; that is, did not receive a bribe, but abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access, will face administrative action,” it noted.
The development is linked to a series of events involving El-Rufai. On February 12, 2026, security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest him upon his arrival from Cairo at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. His passport was said to have been seized, and he reportedly declined to accompany operatives without the presentation of a warrant.
Between February 16 and 18, El-Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of misappropriating ₦432 billion during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Shortly after being granted administrative bail by the EFCC, he was rearrested by operatives of the ICPC between February 18 and 19 and has remained in custody since then.
In subsequent developments, ICPC operatives searched his residence on Aso Drive, Abuja, an action his legal team condemned as unlawful and a violation of his rights.
The Department of State Services also filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai over allegations of wiretapping the phone lines of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, following remarks El-Rufai made during a television interview.
