Aide alleges attempt to detain El-Rufai at Abuja airport after return from Cairo

Security operatives on Thursday allegedly attempted to detain former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt.

The claim was made by El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who said the former governor was approached by security agents upon disembarking from his flight.

In a statement posted on social media, Adekeye said El-Rufai declined to accompany the operatives, insisting on a formal warrant or official invitation.

“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,” Adekeye wrote.

Adekeye further alleged that during the encounter, the operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides, after which the situation reportedly de-escalated into a tense stand-off.

The alleged incident comes less than a day after El-Rufai, in an interview with BBC Hausa, claimed he was being targeted by the current administration and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of mounting pressure on opposition figures to defect.

He also said four of his close associates in Kaduna had recently been arrested, adding, “It is only a matter of time before they come for me too.”