Terror chiefs tracked and trapped
The federal government has arrested seven notorious terrorist commanders at Katsina airport. Security operatives intercepted the suspects immediately upon their return from the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed the successful operation. He revealed that the high-profile suspects belong to the Boko Haram and ISWAP networks. Following the arrest, officials promptly handed them over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for interrogation.
He explained that the arrests became possible because immigration records are now connected to the NIMC database and international security platforms.
He added that the integration also enables real-time collaboration with Interpol, thereby strengthening border security and intelligence gathering.
Digital database snares fugitives, strengthens security
This massive security breakthrough stems directly from Nigeria’s newly integrated identity data systems. Previously, border control agencies operated in isolation. However, the government has now linked the passport acquisition system directly to national identity data.
“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,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
This automation allows the immigration database to communicate seamlessly with Interpol 24/7. Consequently, real-time tracking exposed the suspects as they crossed the border.
Tinubu signs NIMC Act 2026
The breakthrough coincided with a major legislative milestone in Abuja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act into law on Friday, June 26, at the State House.
Top officials witnessed the signing, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Leader Julius Ihonvbere. This new law replaces the obsolete 2007 framework.
It aims to modernise national identity management, boost the digital economy, and aggressively combat identity theft, financial crimes, and terrorism.
Bold leap forward
Furthermore, the updated legislation guarantees a robust and secure identity ecosystem. NIMC Director-General, Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, lauded the President’s visionary leadership.
“For 19 years, the legal framework governing Nigeria’s identity management system remained unchanged while the digital landscape evolved rapidly,” Coker-Odusote noted.
The new law effectively closes this security gap. It establishes the National Identification Number (NIN) as the ultimate cornerstone of nationwide verification, ensuring fleeing criminals can no longer exploit systemic loopholes.
Read full statement from the presidency below:
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS NIMC ACT 2026 INTO LAW, AS MINISTER REVEALS THE ARREST OF TERRORISTS WITH NIMC DATABASE
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday signed the 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act into law, marking a significant… pic.twitter.com/2I4Sa4cx7b
— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) June 26, 2026
