March 03, (THEWILL) — Five security operatives attached to key agencies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have been arrested over what authorities described as an “unprecedented” breach of protocol linked to the February 12, 2026 arrival of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The officers, drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Aviation Security (AVSEC), were accused of compromising operational standards by granting the former governor access to restricted security areas of the airport.
Security sources disclosed that the officers allegedly received bribes to facilitate the unauthorised entry, an action said to have disrupted lawful security operations at one of Nigeria’s busiest international gateways.
According to details released by security authorities, those arrested are Ayuba Yakubu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police; Mutala Inuwa, a DSS operative; Najeeb Murtala, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration; and Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor, both personnel of Aviation Security.
An official statement issued on Tuesday confirmed that the arrests followed a joint investigation conducted by the DSS, the NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
“At the end of a joint investigation by the DSS, the NIS, the NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, five officers have been detained,” the statement read.
The security agency stated that the officers confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised access into restricted sections of the airport and to obstruct lawful security operations in what it described as an unprecedented manner.
Authorities stressed that the alleged misconduct represents a serious violation of established airport security architecture and a breach of national security protocols.
The detained officers have since been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the statement added that other officers from the NIS and the NCS who did not allegedly receive bribes but were found to have abused their official positions to facilitate unauthorised access would face administrative sanctions in accordance with civil service rules.
Security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing strict compliance with operational procedures at all international airports, warning that no individual, regardless of status, would be permitted to undermine security systems or compromise professional standards.
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