Five security officers who attended to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 2026, have been arrested over alleged professional misconduct.
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 accepting bribes to grant the former governor access to restricted security areas at the airport.
According to a security source, the officers allegedly facilitated unauthorised entry into sensitive sections of the airport, thereby obstructing lawful security operations in what authorities described as an “unprecedented manner.”
Those detained were identified as Ayuba Yakubu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police; Murtala Inuwa, a DSS operative; Najeeb Murtala, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration; and Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor, both officials of Aviation Security.
An official statement issued on Tuesday disclosed that the arrests followed a joint investigation involving the DSS, the NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
“At the end of a joint investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, five officers have been detained,” the statement read.
“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into restricted areas and to obstruct lawful security operations.”
The statement further confirmed that the officers have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
It added that additional officers from the NIS and NCS who did not receive bribes but allegedly abused their official positions and uniforms to enable unauthorised access would face internal administrative sanctions.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as measures are being strengthened to prevent future breaches of airport security protocols.
