There was a commotion at Abuja Airport on Thursday as security agents allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
According to Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s media aide, operatives approached the former governor shortly after he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody. El-Rufai reportedly declined to accompany them, insisting he would not do so without a formal invitation or due process.
The encounter caused a momentary commotion at the airport, with supporters intervening and chanting in his favor, helping ensure he left safely.Adekeye further alleged that during the incident, the agents seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides.
El-Rufai himself retweeted Adekeye’s post and shared that his lawyers had issued a statement condemning the move as an “illegal attempt” to arrest him. His legal counsel described it as a violation of constitutional rights and executive overreach, with some reports specifying involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS), though no official confirmation from security agencies has been reported as of the latest updates.
The reason for the attempted arrest remains unclear, with no official statement from authorities explaining the action or any underlying allegations. El-Rufai has emphasized the need for formal procedures, reportedly telling the operatives something to the effect of requiring a written invitation or letter if they wished to engage him.
This incident has sparked discussions online about due process, political intimidation, and the use of security apparatus in Nigeria, particularly given El-Rufai’s prominent opposition role and past controversies. No arrests were ultimately made, and El-Rufai was able to depart the airport.
