Interior minister credits Nigeria’s integrated identity management system for the arrests, saying the upgraded database is strengthening national security…..
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested upon their return from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, describing the operation as a major success of Nigeria’s integrated identity management system.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.
According to the minister, the suspects were intercepted last Thursday at the Katsina airport shortly after arriving from Mecca before they were handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
He explained that the arrests were made possible through the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with the Nigeria Immigration Service’s system, which is also linked to Interpol’s global network.
Recalling concerns previously raised over how suspected terrorists were able to travel for pilgrimage, Tunji-Ojo said the current administration inherited a fragmented identity management structure but has since transformed it into a coordinated system capable of tracking persons of interest.
“I know sometime ago, the Senate President was alarmed by how some terrorists went on pilgrimage, wondering how they crossed our borders. We inherited a fractured system,” he said.
“But I’m happy to tell you that even last week Thursday, seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP, at the point of returning from Mecca, were arrested in Katsina at the airport and handed over to the DSS.”
The minister noted that the successful operation underscores the importance of integrating government databases, adding that the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 will further improve collaboration among security agencies and strengthen Nigeria’s identity management framework.
According to him, the legislation is expected to enhance the credibility of the National Identity Number (NIN) system while boosting efforts to combat terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes and other security threats.
Tunji-Ojo also highlighted the progress made in linking government services to the national identity database, noting that passport applications are now fully integrated with NIMC records.
“When Mr President came on board, we had a disconnected system within our identity data management structure. At that time, getting a passport and obtaining a driver’s licence were completely disconnected from our identity database. But today, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 on Friday in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and other senior government officials.
