Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested five security officers over a security breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, linked to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The arrests come weeks after security operatives reportedly attempted to apprehend El-Rufai at the airport on February 12, 2026, shortly after his arrival from Cairo aboard EgyptAir flight MS 877.
Sources indicated that the suspects are set to face prosecution following a joint investigation conducted by the DSS, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Those detained include ASP Ayuba Yakubu of the Nigeria Police Force, Murtala Inuwa of the DSS, Najeeb Murtala of the Immigration Service, and Aviation Security personnel Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.
According to reports by African Independent Television (AIT), investigators said the suspects allegedly admitted to collecting bribes in exchange for granting unauthorised access to restricted areas of the airport and interfering with established security protocols.
Authorities described the incident as a serious insider compromise of critical national infrastructure. The detained officers have since been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
Meanwhile, other Immigration and Customs personnel found to have misused official uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access — but not considered criminally culpable — are expected to face internal disciplinary actions.
Officials said the measures underscore a zero-tolerance stance toward breaches within Nigeria’s aviation security framework.
