Tension reportedly flared at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday following claims that security operatives attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
The allegation was made by El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, who disclosed the development in a post on social media.
According to Adekeye, security agents approached the former governor shortly after he arrived but he declined to accompany them, insisting that he would only respond to a formal invitation.
“As he arrived, security agents approached him, but Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation. They, however, snatched his international passport from an aide,” Adekeye stated.
Adekeye further alleged that the operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides during the encounter.
As of Thursday evening, there was no official confirmation or statement from any security agency regarding the reported incident.
The development comes barely 24 hours after El-Rufai, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said he could be arrested at any time. In the interview, he accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pressuring politicians to either align with the party or face political consequences.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” El-Rufai said during the BBC Hausa interview.
Political analysts note that if the airport incident is officially confirmed, it could heighten concerns about the country’s political atmosphere, particularly amid ongoing political realignments ahead of future elections.
Security authorities have yet to respond to the allegations.
