Nigeria terror arrests of seven Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders returning from Hajj highlight the success of the country’s integrated identity management system, Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has revealed

Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced on Friday 26 June 2026 in Abuja that Nigeria’s integrated identity management system enabled the arrest of seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders at Katsina airport last Thursday as they returned from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

The suspects were promptly handed over to the Department of State Services following their detention, according to the minister.

The breakthrough was made possible through the seamless connection between the National Identity Management Commission database, the Nigeria Immigration Service and Interpol.

Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 into law at the Presidential Villa.

“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.

The minister highlighted how the new law would further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by accelerating database harmonisation and inter-agency collaboration.

He noted that prior to the current administration, identity systems were fragmented, with passport and driver’s licence processing disconnected from the national identity database.

President Tinubu signed the legislation in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other senior officials, underscoring a commitment to modernising governance tools for national security.

This development comes against a backdrop of persistent threats from Boko Haram and ISWAP in parts of northern Nigeria.

The arrests demonstrate tangible progress in using technology to secure borders and prevent the movement of high-risk individuals, even during major religious events like the Hajj.

The minister expressed optimism that the strengthened identity framework would enhance the fight against terrorism, financial crimes and identity theft while improving overall public service delivery.