Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was at the centre of a dramatic scene at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following an attempted arrest by security operatives upon his arrival in Nigeria.
According to accounts from his media aides and multiple eyewitness reports, security personnel approached the former governor shortly after he disembarked from an international flight, believed to have arrived from Cairo, Egypt.
He was reportedly asked to accompany the operatives but declined, insisting that he had not been formally invited or presented with a warrant.
The situation quickly escalated when a large crowd of supporters, associates, and political loyalists gathered around him, forming a protective ring that prevented the operatives from taking him into custody.
Video clips circulating online showed supporters chanting solidarity slogans while escorting him out of the terminal.
Abuja Airport Scene as El-Rufai Resists Attempted Detention.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was at the centre of a tense standoff at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following an attempted detention by security operatives upon his arrival from Cairo.
Eyewitnesses and aides said operatives approached shortly after he disembarked, requesting he accompany them.
El-Rufai reportedly declined, insisting no formal warrant or prior invitation had been presented.
The situation escalated as supporters and political associates quickly formed a protective ring, blocking the operatives and escorting him out of the terminal amid chants of solidarity.
Sources indicated he anticipated possible questioning linked to ongoing inquiries, while security officials maintain that all citizens remain subject to lawful investigation.
No agency has claimed responsibility, and he was not detained.
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Sources close to the former governor indicated that he had earlier anticipated a possible arrest upon his return, citing ongoing investigations and prior invitations reportedly linked to anti-corruption inquiries.
While the specific agency behind the attempted arrest was not officially confirmed at the time of reporting, the development has fuelled political speculation, particularly against the backdrop of El-Rufai’s recent political realignments and public criticisms of federal authorities.
Security sources, however, were quoted in parallel briefings as maintaining that no individual is above the law and that former public office holders remain subject to investigation where necessary.
The incident has since triggered widespread reactions across political and civil society spaces, raising fresh conversations around due process, political tensions, and the conduct of security operations involving high-profile figures.
As of press time, no formal statement had been issued confirming an arrest, and El-Rufai was not in custody.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
