National identity registry assisted in capturing seven top Boko Haram and ISWAP leaders upon their return from pilgrimage, says Minister

On Friday, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, revealed that Nigeria's integrated identity management system had facilitated the capture of seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders upon their return from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

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This disclosure was made at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly after President Bola Tinubu had signed the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 into law, as outlined in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the President's aide.

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The suspects were apprehended last Thursday at the Katsina airport, following their return from Mecca, and were subsequently transferred to the Department of State Services, according to the minister.

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The arrests were made possible due to the integration of the National Identity Management Commission database with the Nigeria Immigration Service database, as well as its connection to Interpol, the minister explained.

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Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo referenced the Senate President's previous concern about terrorists crossing borders to attend pilgrimages, acknowledging that the country had inherited a fractured system.

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The minister expressed satisfaction that, despite this, seven known Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders were arrested at the Katsina airport last Thursday upon their return from Mecca and handed over to the DSS.

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This achievement was attributed to the connection between NIMC's ID and the immigration database, which is constantly linked to Interpol, enabling the automation of the process, the minister said.

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The newly signed NIMC Act is expected to further bolster Nigeria's security architecture by accelerating the harmonisation of identity databases and enhancing inter-agency collaboration, according to Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

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The law will also improve the integrity of the National Identity Number system, while increasing the country's capacity to combat identity theft, terrorism, financial crimes, and other security threats, the minister noted.

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Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo observed that, prior to the current administration, identity management systems were fragmented, with services such as passport issuance and driver's licence processing disconnected from the national identity database.

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He noted that, under the previous system, obtaining a passport and a driving permit were completely disconnected from the identity database, but now, it is impossible to get a Nigerian passport without retrieving data from NIMC.

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President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 on Friday, surrounded by senior government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu.