Nigeria’s integrated identity management system has led to the arrest of seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders who were returning from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, the Federal Government has disclosed.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The NIMC database arrests highlight the government’s expanding use of digital identity systems to strengthen national security.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the seven suspects were intercepted at Katsina Airport last Thursday after arriving from Mecca.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the arrests became possible through the integration of the National Identity Management Commission database with the Nigeria Immigration Service database and its connection to Interpol. He said the suspects were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
“I know, sometime ago, the Senate President was alarmed by how some terrorists went on pilgrimage, wondering how they crossed our borders. We inherited a fractured system.
“But I’m happy to tell you that even last week, Thursday, seven of the known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP at the point of coming back from Mecca were arrested in Katsina at the airport and were handed over to the DSS.
“This is only possible because NIMC’s ID is already connected with the immigration database, and it’s already speaking to even the Interpol 24/7, and we have been able to automate this,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo said the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 would further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by improving collaboration among government agencies and accelerating the harmonisation of identity databases.
He explained that the legislation is expected to improve the integrity of the National Identity Number system while strengthening efforts to combat terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes and other security threats. The NIMC database arrests demonstrate the practical benefits of integrating national identity systems with security agencies.
The minister recalled that before the current administration, Nigeria operated disconnected identity management systems, making it difficult for agencies to effectively verify identities across government platforms. According to him, services such as passport issuance and driver’s licence processing previously functioned independently of the national identity database.
“When Mr President came on board, we had a disconnected system within our identity data management system. At that time, getting a passport and getting a driving permit were completely disconnected from our identity database.
“But today, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC,” he stated.
President Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and other senior government officials.
The Federal Government said the legislation forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, improving inter-agency cooperation and enhancing national security through technology-driven verification systems. Officials believe the NIMC database arrests illustrate the growing role of integrated identity management in tackling terrorism and cross-border security threats.
