By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Five security officers have been arrested over alleged compromise in a security breach in an incident involving former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12.
Authorities confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday, March 3, that the arrests followed a joint investigation conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
The statement, entitled: ‘Arrest and Prosecution of Security Officers Compromised by Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for the 12th February 2026 Security Breach,’ noted that the security officers’ action led to a serious compromise of airport security protocols.
“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.
According to the statement, the officers were identified as Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) – Police, Murtala Inuwa – DSS, Najeeb Murtala (ASI) – NIS, Musa Adamu – Aviation Security, Salihu Victor – AVSEC.
The statement further noted that the officers had confessed to wrongdoing and had been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
It added that other personnel from the NIS and NCS whose involvement was deemed non-criminal would face administrative action.
The officers’ arrest is linked to events involving El-Rufai, who security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest on February 12 upon his arrival from Cairo at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, his passport was reportedly seized, even as he declined to accompany operatives without the presentation of a warrant.
The former governor was detained days later when he honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of misappropriating N432 billion during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
