Five security officers have been arrested and are set to face prosecution over the February 12, 2026 security breach at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in an incident authorities say involved former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The arrests followed a joint investigation by the Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Those detained are ASP Ayuba Yakubu (Police), Murtala Inuwa (DSS), Najeeb Murtala (Immigration), and Aviation Security personnel Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.
Investigators told AIT.live that the officers confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised access into restricted airport areas and to obstruct lawful security operations, describing the act as a serious insider compromise of critical national infrastructure.
The suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICP) for prosecution.
Meanwhile, additional Immigration and Customs personnel found to have abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access, though not criminally complicit, will face administrative disciplinary action.
Authorities say the move underscores a zero-tolerance stance against internal sabotage within Nigeria’s aviation security architecture.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
