The Katsina State Government has declined to comment on reports that suspected bandit leaders were arrested at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, upon their return from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
The controversy followed an announcement by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who disclosed that seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were apprehended on June 18 and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure at the Presidential Villa in Abuja shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.
According to the minister, the arrests were facilitated by Nigeria’s enhanced digital identity and border management system, which integrates the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Interpol databases.
“I am happy to tell you that last Thursday (June 18), seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP were arrested at the point of returning from Mecca in Katsina and handed over to the DSS,” the minister said.
He, however, did not disclose the identities of the suspects, whether they travelled on Nigerian passports, how they secured travel clearance, or if they had previously been on security watchlists.
Responding to the reports, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, said the matter falls within the exclusive responsibility of federal security agencies.
According to Daily Trust report, he maintained that the state government neither conducted nor authorised any arrest at the airport.
“These are security and administrative matters handled by federal agencies. The state government is not in a position to confirm or deny the reported arrests. Journalists should contact the Nigeria Immigration Service and the DSS for accurate information,” Danmusa said.
He added that border control, passenger screening and intelligence operations remain the constitutional responsibilities of federal authorities.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango, said he had no knowledge of any arrests involving suspected bandit leaders returning from Saudi Arabia.
“I am not aware of any arrest of bandit kingpins returning from Saudi Arabia,” he stated.
The reported arrests have continued to spark public debate, particularly following earlier allegations that some suspected bandits participated in this year’s Hajj through the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Political analyst Dr. Bashir Kurfi had alleged during a Trust TV programme that some notorious bandit leaders, including a wanted kingpin identified as Monore, were sponsored by the state government for the pilgrimage.
“What we are seeing is disturbing. Many bandits, including Monore, were allegedly sponsored by the Katsina State Government and went to Hajj. This raises serious questions about the screening process,” Kurfi said.
The Katsina State Government has consistently denied the allegation.
Meanwhile, a source within the Nigeria Immigration Service reportedly told Daily Trust that although arrests were made at the airport, those apprehended were suspected bandit leaders rather than Boko Haram or ISWAP commanders.
The source also claimed that some citizens of the Niger Republic were among those arrested after arriving through the Katsina airport.
Another source close to the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board alleged that several suspected bandits took part in the 2026 Hajj through the state’s official pilgrimage arrangement, citing weaknesses in the screening process.
According to the source, some of the suspects, allegedly from Dutsinma, Katsina and Jibia local government areas, travelled with family members and aides after their registration was facilitated by agents.
However, the Executive Director of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Yunusa Abdullahi Dankama, dismissed the allegations, insisting that he was unaware of any bandits who participated in the pilgrimage through the board or of any arrests connected with the exercise.
“I am not aware of any bandits who performed this year’s Hajj through the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board. I am also not aware of any arrests linked to the pilgrimage,” Dankama said.