The Federal Government has disclosed that seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were recently arrested at the Katsina airport while returning from the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the suspects were intercepted last Thursday through Nigeria’s newly integrated identity management system and were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
The minister said the arrests demonstrated the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening identity management, improving border security and enhancing intelligence gathering.
Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.
The signing ceremony was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the World Bank’s representative Taimur Samad and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the new law as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise identity management, strengthen national security, improve public service delivery and expand the country’s digital economy.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Tunji-Ojo said the new legislation would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and improve the delivery of government services to citizens.
He explained that before the current administration came into office, Nigeria’s identity management system was fragmented, with critical government databases operating independently and without effective communication.
According to him, this situation created loopholes that could be exploited by criminals and made it more difficult for security agencies to track suspects and monitor movement across the country’s borders.
“With this law, our security architecture can be enhanced. When Mr. President came on board, we had a disconnected system within our identity data management system. At that time, getting a passport and getting a driving permit were completely disconnected from our identity database. But today, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC,” the minister said.
He explained that the integration of the National Identity Number (NIN) database with the Nigeria Immigration Service has greatly improved border control and strengthened intelligence gathering.
According to Tunji-Ojo, immigration officers can now verify the identity of travellers using information linked directly to the National Identity Management Commission database, while the system also communicates with international law enforcement platforms, including Interpol.
The minister said the recent arrest of the suspected terrorists clearly demonstrated the value of the reforms.
“What you have in immigration is what you have in the NIMC database, and let me say this clearly, that it has even helped our border control process. 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.
“But I’m happy to tell you that 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 even the Interpol 24/7, and we have been able to automate this,” he said.
Although the minister did not reveal the identities of the suspects or provide details of the ongoing investigation, he said the arrests highlighted the importance of technology and data integration in combating terrorism and organised crime.
Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP, have carried out violent attacks across Nigeria’s North-East for more than a decade, leading to the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions. The insurgents have also been linked to kidnappings, bomb attacks and assaults on military formations and civilian communities.
Over the years, security agencies have intensified efforts to dismantle the terrorist groups through military operations, intelligence gathering and improved border surveillance. However, authorities have continued to warn that members of the groups often attempt to move across international borders using false identities or exploit weaknesses in documentation systems.
Tunji-Ojo said the new NIMC Act would further accelerate the harmonisation of government identity databases and improve the credibility of the National Identity Number as Nigeria’s primary means of identification.
According to him, the law will strengthen collaboration among security agencies, reduce identity theft and improve Nigeria’s capacity to fight terrorism, financial crimes and other security threats.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed the signing of the legislation, describing it as another demonstration of the National Assembly’s commitment to passing laws that respond to the country’s changing security and development needs.
He expressed confidence that the law would improve public trust in Nigeria’s identity management system while supporting President Tinubu’s broader reform agenda.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also described the legislation as a major step in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
According to him, the previous NIMC Act enacted in 2007 had become outdated and no longer reflected current technological realities or the country’s growing digital economy.
“Today marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation. It reflects the Federal Government’s bold commitment to building a robust, trusted and inclusive identity ecosystem,” Kalu said.
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, assured Nigerians that the commission would work closely with security agencies, development partners and the private sector to ensure the successful implementation of the new law.
She said the legislation provides a modern legal framework for Nigeria’s identity management system after nearly two decades under an outdated law.
According to her, the Act strengthens the National Identification Number as the country’s primary identity verification tool while introducing reforms that support secure digital identity, easier access to government and private sector services, and Nigeria’s wider digital transformation agenda.