Five security officers have been arrested and are set to face prosecution over their alleged role in a security breach at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 2026, in an incident involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The arrests followed a joint investigation into what authorities described as a serious compromise of airport security protocols.
A statement made available to Punch Online on Tuesday, titled “Arrest and Prosecution of Security Officers Compromised by Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for the 12th February 2026 Security Breach,” confirmed that 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 arrested officers were identified as Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) – Police, Murtala Inuwa – DSS, Najeeb Murtala (ASI) – NIS, Musa Adamu – Aviation Security, and Salihu Victor – AVSEC. Authorities stated that the officers had confessed to wrongdoing, admitting to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into restricted areas and obstruct lawful security operations.
The suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. The statement noted that other personnel from the NIS and NCS whose actions were deemed non-criminal but involved abuse of uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access would face administrative sanctions.
The security breach occurred as operatives reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai upon his arrival from Cairo. His passport was seized, but he declined to accompany operatives without the presentation of a warrant. Days later, between February 16 and 18, El-Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of misappropriating ₦432 billion during his tenure as Kaduna State Governor.
After being granted administrative bail by the EFCC, he was rearrested by ICPC operatives between February 18 and 19 and has remained in custody. Subsequently, ICPC searched his residence on Aso Drive, Abuja, an action his legal team described as unlawful. Additionally, the DSS 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.
