DSS Detains 5 Police, Immigration Officers Over Failed Move Against El-Rufai, Seized Passport

Abuja,  Nigeria- Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested and detained five security operatives over their alleged roles in the controversial failed arrest of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The dramatic incident occurred on February 12 when El-Rufai arrived in Abuja from Cairo, Egypt.

Security agents reportedly attempted to detain him upon landing but were unsuccessful. However, his international passport was seized during the standoff.

Daily Trust reports that the arrests of the officers followed an internal investigation ordered after the botched operation stirred public controversy and raised questions about inter-agency coordination at the airport.

Those detained include Ayuba Yakubu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police; Murtala Inuwa of the DSS; Najeeb Murtala, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); and two Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel — Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.

The DSS disclosed that a joint investigation involving the NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation uncovered alleged misconduct by the officers.

According to the agency, the operatives admitted to receiving bribes to grant unauthorised access to restricted airport areas and to interfere with a lawful security operation.

“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into Restricted Areas and to obstruct a lawful security operation in an unprecedented manner,” the DSS said.

The detained officers have since been transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. Other officials from the NIS and NCS who allegedly enabled unauthorised access but were not found to have received bribes are expected to face internal disciplinary actions.

The DSS further alleged that El-Rufai was able to evade arrest at the airport due to the interference of compromised officials who obstructed security procedures.

In a post on X shortly after the incident, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s spokesperson, claimed that security agents attempted to arrest the former governor without presenting any formal invitation.

“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir @elrufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation. They, however, snatched his international passport from an aide,” Adekeye wrote.

Days after the airport confrontation, El-Rufai honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he was reportedly interrogated for three days before being granted bail.

However, he was subsequently taken into custody by the ICPC and has remained in prison detention.

The DSS has since filed criminal charges against the former governor but failed to arraign him in court on February 25, citing his continued detention by the ICPC.

El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations, describing the moves against him as politically motivated. He accused the current administration of orchestrating a witch-hunt aimed at silencing him.