. Passport snatched from aide by security operatives
. Former Kaduna gov ferried into a waiting SUV by large crowd of supporters as vehicle zoomed out of airport
Operatives of the Department of State Services on Thursday allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, made the claim in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle shortly after the incident.
Adekeye said the operatives approached El-Rufai as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.
He said but the former governor declined to accompany the agents, insisting that he would not honour the request without a formal invitation.
Adekeye’s statement read, “Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation.”
He further alleged that the security personnel seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.
“They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” he added.
A viral video of the incident at the airport obtained by our correspondent shows El-Rufai being surrounded by a crowd of his supporters who prevented security operatives from taking him away.
The crowd, which formed a ring around the former Kaduna governor, practically ferried El-Rufai into a waiting SUV, which immediately zoomed off.
Recall that on Wednesday, El-Rufai had raised the alarm that he could be arrested by the Federal Government, claiming that recent developments indicate he may be the next target.
He cried out in an interview with BBC Hausa, expressing concerns over what he described as growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
The former governor, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress, said some of his close associates had already been detained.
“Four people we worked together in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
Although he stated that he had not yet been arrested, El-Rufai suggested that the arrests of his associates signalled possible action against him.
He further alleged that political pressure was being mounted on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party.
He said the current political climate was forcing individuals to make decisions, not out of conviction but survival.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State for eight years under the APC platform, has in recent times intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the party’s leadership.
His comments come amid the arrest and ongoing trial of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Malami of offences including abuse of office and money laundering.
The Department of State Service later rearrested him over fresh allegations related to terrorism financing.
Malami, who also defected to the ADC and is eyeing a governorship seat in Kebbi State in 2027, had denied all allegations, describing the charges as a “political witch-hunt” linked to his defection and opposition stance.
The Nigerian Immigration Service and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria have yet to officially respond to El-Rufai’s attempted arrest as of the time of filing this report.
