Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested five security personnel over a serious security breach at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The arrests come weeks after security operatives attempted to detain El-Rufai at the airport on February 12, 2026, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt, on Egypt Air flight MS 877. Sources say the suspects are set to face prosecution for their alleged roles in compromising airport security.
A joint investigation conducted by the DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation led to the identification and detention of the following personnel:
ASP Ayuba Yakubu – Nigeria Police Force; Murtala Inuwa – DSS; Najeeb Murtala – Nigeria Immigration Service; Musa Adamu – Aviation Security personnel and Salihu Victor – Aviation Security personnel.
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According to reports from AIT, investigators revealed that the suspects allegedly admitted to receiving bribes in exchange for granting unauthorized access to restricted areas of the airport and interfering with lawful security procedures. Authorities described the incident as a grave insider breach of critical national infrastructure.
The suspects have been transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. Meanwhile, additional Immigration and Customs personnel found to have misused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access—but not deemed criminally liable—will face internal disciplinary actions.
Officials emphasized that the arrests and subsequent actions reflect zero tolerance for internal compromise within Nigeria’s aviation security system and serve as a warning against corruption in critical national facilities.