The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria's integrated identity management system led to the arrest of seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders as they returned from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the minister, the suspects were arrested last Thursday at Katsina Airport after arriving from Mecca and were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the arrests were made possible through the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with the Nigeria Immigration Service database and its connection to Interpol's global security network.
He said the previous identity management system was fragmented, making it difficult for government agencies to effectively share information. However, the current administration has linked critical databases, allowing security agencies to verify identities more efficiently and detect individuals flagged for criminal or terrorist activities.
The minister added that the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 will further strengthen Nigeria's security by improving the harmonization of identity databases across government agencies. He said the law is expected to enhance the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN) system while helping authorities combat terrorism, identity theft, financial crimes, and other security threats.
Tunji-Ojo also noted that services such as passport issuance are now directly connected to the NIMC database, making it impossible for applicants to obtain a Nigerian passport without identity verification through the national identity system.
President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and other senior government officials, marking another step in the government's efforts to strengthen national security through digital identity management.
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