Security Operatives Allegedly Attempt to Arrest El-Rufai at Abuja Airport

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

Former Nasir El-Rufai was on Thursday reportedly confronted by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after returning to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, in what aides described as an attempted arrest.

The claim was made by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who disclosed the development in a post on his verified account on X.

According to Adekeye, the operatives approached the former Kaduna State governor as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody. 

He said El-Rufai declined to follow the agents, insisting that he would only respond to a formal invitation or warrant.

“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. 

Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation,” the statement read.

Adekeye further alleged that the security personnel seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter, claiming it was taken from one of his aides.

The incident comes amid heightened political tension surrounding El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress.

In a separate interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor expressed concerns that he could soon be arrested, alleging what he described as growing political pressure and intimidation against opposition figures.

He claimed that four of his former associates in Kaduna had already been detained.

“Four people we worked together in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.

El-Rufai maintained that he had not been arrested but suggested that the arrests of his associates indicated possible action against him. 

He also alleged that politicians were being pressured to either defect to or remain within the ruling party.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies or the Federal Government regarding the alleged attempt to arrest the former governor.