Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says seven suspected commanders linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are arrested at Katsina Airport. Multiple outlets report that the arrests happen as the suspects return from the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with the minister indicating the interceptions occur on Thursday of the previous week. The government describes the operation as a success tied to identity verification measures.
Vanguard and Daily Post report that the minister explains the arrests are connected to Nigeria’s integrated digital identity and security verification system and the use of identity-related reforms associated with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Information Nigeria similarly states that the suspects are intercepted at Katsina Airport while returning from Hajj and that the minister discloses the development publicly. Premium Times presents the same core account, quoting the minister about arresting “known commanders” at the point of returning from Mecca.
The outlets agree on the main facts: number of suspects, affiliations, location (Katsina Airport), timing (returning from Hajj), and the Interior Ministry’s attribution to identity verification systems.
