The Katsina State Government has opted not to address claims that alleged bandit leaders were taken into custody at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport upon their return from the 2026 Hajj.
This situation surfaced after Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed that seven individuals suspected of commanding Boko Haram and ISWAP were intercepted at the facility and transferred to the Department of State Services. The minister attributed the successful identification to the integration of Nigeria’s digital identity systems with Interpol and immigration databases.
Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, stated that the state holds no authority over these federal operations. In a conversation with BBC Hausa, he clarified that the state government neither ordered nor executed the arrests, emphasizing that border security and passenger verification are under the purview of national agencies. He directed media inquiries to the Nigeria Immigration Service and the DSS for further details.
Public speculation continues to grow regarding claims that some bandits utilized the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board to travel for Hajj. Bashir Kurfi, a political analyst, previously suggested that such arrangements occurred, though the state government has consistently rejected these assertions. Yunusa Abdullahi Dankama, the Executive Director of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, echoed this rejection, stating he has no knowledge of any bandits using the board for the pilgrimage or any subsequent arrests related to the event.
