About 50 DSS Operatives Were Sent To Arrest Me At Abuja Airport – El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services attempted to arrest him on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as he returned from Cairo, Egypt.
He said the action was not carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as initially reported, but was allegedly initiated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
El-Rufai made the clarification during an interview on Arise News Channel, where he recounted how dozens of security operatives allegedly tried to detain him without presenting any formal invitation.
According to him, shortly after disembarking, a man who identified himself as a DSS officer asked him to accompany him to their office. El-Rufai said he requested a letter of invitation but was told the officer’s superiors had it.
He explained that as he proceeded toward the immigration desk, more operatives appeared, claiming about 50 DSS personnel had been deployed to ensure he was detained.
El-Rufai said two officers later attempted to redirect him away from immigration, but he refused, insisting he would not go anywhere without an official letter, stressing that Nigeria is a democratic country governed by law.
He noted that immigration officials stamped his passport and allowed him to pass, adding that if there had been any official directive, his passport would have been withheld.
The former governor also alleged that one of his aides was assaulted when security agents tried to seize his passport, adding that the situation drew attention from other passengers and those who came to receive him, preventing his detention.
He clarified that earlier claims linking the EFCC to the incident were inaccurate, stating that while his lawyers initially mentioned the commission, it was actually DSS operatives acting on behalf of the ICPC.
El-Rufai added that the EFCC had formally invited him for questioning and that his lawyers responded by informing the commission he was on annual vacation and would honour the invitation after his return, stating he plans to appear on February 16.
He warned that actions perceived as politically motivated could erode public trust in security agencies, noting that losing confidence in such institutions could push the country toward instability.
