Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested at Katsina Airport while returning from the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Drivetvnews gathered that the minister said the arrests were made possible through the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with the Nigeria Immigration Service and international law enforcement platforms.
Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure during the signing of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
According to the minister, the new legislation strengthens Nigeria’s identity management system, improves national security, enhances public service delivery, and supports the country’s digital transformation efforts.
He explained that the updated identity management framework has significantly improved cooperation among security agencies, making it easier to combat terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes, and other security threats.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the seven suspected terrorist commanders were identified and arrested upon arrival at Katsina Airport before being handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
He noted that the arrests were possible because the NIMC database is now linked to the immigration system and operates in collaboration with Interpol’s database around the clock.
The minister added that before the current administration introduced the reforms, Nigeria’s identity management systems operated independently, making effective verification difficult. He stressed that passport issuance and other identity-related services now rely on verification through the NIMC database, strengthening national security and reducing identity fraud.
