Five security officers have been arrested and are set to face prosecution over their alleged roles in a security breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 2026, in an incident involving Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State.
In a statement released to journalists 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 February 12, 2026 Security Breach,” said the probe was conducted by the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
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“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, an Assistant Superintendent of Police; Murtala Inuwa of the DSS; Najeeb Murtala, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration; Musa Adamu of Aviation Security; and Salihu Victor of AVSEC.
According to the authorities, the officers allegedly confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into restricted areas of the airport and to obstruct lawful security operations in what was described as an unprecedented manner.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for prosecution.
The statement added that other personnel from the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service whose involvement was considered non-criminal would still face administrative sanctions.
It explained that while they were not found to have received bribes, they allegedly abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access.
The development is linked to events surrounding El-Rufai’s arrival at the Abuja airport on February 12.
Security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest the former governor upon his arrival from Cairo.
His passport was said to have been seized, and he reportedly declined to accompany the 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 over allegations that he misappropriated N432 billion during his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State.
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Shortly after being granted administrative bail by the EFCC, he was rearrested by the ICPC between February 18 and 19 and has remained in custody since.
Subsequently, ICPC operatives searched his residence on Aso Drive in Abuja, an action his legal team condemned as unlawful and a violation of his rights.
