Nigeria’s newly integrated identity management system has led to the arrest of seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders who had just returned from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the arrests on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.
The announcement was contained in a statement by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga.According to Tunji-Ojo, the suspects were intercepted last Thursday at Katsina airport upon arrival from Mecca and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
He explained that the breakthrough was possible due to the integration of the NIMC database with the Nigeria Immigration Service and its connection to Interpol.
“Even last week, Thursday, seven of the known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP at the point of coming back from Mecca were arrested in Katsina at the airport and were handed over to the DSS. This is only possible because NIMC’s ID is already connected with the immigration database, and it’s already speaking to Interpol 24/7,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the newly signed NIMC Act would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by harmonizing identity databases, enhancing the integrity of the National Identity Number system, and boosting the fight against terrorism, identity theft, and financial crimes.
He noted that before the current administration, identity management systems were fragmented, with services like passport issuance and driver’s licence processing disconnected from the national identity database.
President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and other senior government officials.
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