Five security officers have been arrested and are set to face prosecution over their alleged involvement in a security breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on February 12, 2026, in an unprecedented incident authorities say involved former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service and Aviation Security, are accused of receiving bribes to grant the ex-governor entry into restricted security areas at the airport and, by so doing, obstructed security operations in what the DSS describes as an ‘unprecedented manner’.
In a statement titled: “Arrest and Prosecution of Security Officers Compromised by Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for the 12th February 2026 Security Breach,” the authorities confirmed that the arrests followed a joint investigation into what was described as a serious compromise of airport security protocols.
The officers, in the statement issued on Tuesday, were identified as: “Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) – Police, Murtala Inuwa – DSS, Najeeb Murtala (ASI) – NIS, Musa Adamu – Aviation Security, Salihu Victor – AVSEC.” According to the authorities stated that the officers had confessed to wrongdoing.
“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into Restricted Areas, to obstruct lawful security operations in an unprecedented manner,” the statement said.
The statement further confirmed that the suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for prosecution.”
It added that other personnel from the NIS and NCS whose involvement was deemed non-criminal would still face consequences.
“Others from NIS and NCS whose involvement is not criminal; that is, did not receive bribe, but abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access, will face administrative action,” read the statement.
