ABUJA — The Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a massive crackdown on security personnel, arresting several high-ranking police and immigration officers allegedly involved in the “unauthorized” return of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to Nigeria.
The arrests follow a high-level security breach that allowed the embattled former governor to slip back into the country despite being on a government watch list. Security sources indicate that the secret police moved swiftly to pick up the officials, who are suspected of providing cover and logistical support for El-Rufai’s arrival.
Coordination of a ‘Shadow Return’
Intelligence reports suggest that the arrested officers, stationed at a major international gateway, may have circumvented standard biometric protocols to facilitate the former governor’s entry. El-Rufai, who has been abroad since 2023 following a fallout with the presidency and a controversial Senate screening, reportedly arrived under a cloud of secrecy that has now embarrassed the nation’s top security hierarchy.
“The directive was clear regarding certain high-profile individuals,” a senior DSS source stated. “The fact that he was able to pass through our borders without immediate detention points to a deliberate compromise within the ranks of the Police and the Immigration Service.”
Heads Roll at the Border
While the identities of the detained officials are being closely guarded, insiders reveal that at least three Assistant Comptrollers of Immigration and two senior Police officers attached to the airport command are currently in DSS custody. They are being interrogated for “gross misconduct, conspiracy, and compromising national security.”
The DSS is reportedly investigating whether financial inducements were involved or if the officers acted on the orders of a powerful political cabal still loyal to the former governor.
The El-Rufai Factor
El-Rufai’s return has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. The former governor has been at the center of several petitions and security “interest” since his departure from office. His sudden reappearance is seen by many as a direct challenge to the current administration’s grip on internal security.
The Presidency has yet to issue an official statement on the arrests, but the atmosphere at the Force Headquarters and the Immigration Service remains tense as more “purges” are expected in the coming days.
Security Tightened
Following the breach, the DSS has reportedly taken over primary clearance duties at several VIP arrival points to prevent similar lapses. The arrested officers face the prospect of a court-martial or summary dismissal if found guilty of aiding the former governor’s clandestine return.
