Security Agents Attempt To Arrest El-Rufai At Abuja Airport – Aide

A mild drama played out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, February 12, after security agents reportedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.

According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai declined to accompany the operatives, insisting on a formal invitation. In a post shared on his X handle, Adekeye alleged that the agents subsequently seized the former governor’s international passport from one of his aides.

“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir @elrufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El- Rufai declined to follow them without a formal Invitation. They however snatched his international passport from an aide.’’he wrote

As of Thursday evening, there has been no official confirmation from security authorities regarding the incident.

The development comes a day after El-Rufai granted an interview to BBC Hausa where he said he could be arrested in Nigeria at any time. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pressuring politicians to either align with the party or face political consequences.U.S. Lawmakers Move Against Chinese Mining Companies Accused Of Financing Fulani Militias In Nigeria

A new bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives is seeking action against alleged illegal Chinese mining activities in Nigeria over claims that proceeds are used to fund armed Fulani militias.

The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers: Chris Smith, Riley Moore (the bill’s author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.

The sponsors allege that some illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria engage in the “destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias.” The bill urges the US Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian government to counter what it describes as hostile foreign exploitation linked to these operations.

Clauses 10 and 11 propose that the Secretary of State consider providing technical support to Nigeria to reduce and eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias. This would include disarmament initiatives and broader counter-terrorism cooperation aimed at removing Foreign Terrorist Organizations that may thr£aten US interests. It also calls for collaboration with Nigerian authorities to address illegal mining activities and their alleged financial links to militias.

Additionally, the bill recommends that the US Department of State engage international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to support efforts promoting religious freedom and peace in Nigeria. The Secretary of State would also assess whether certain “Fulani-ethnic militias” meet the criteria for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

The proposal follows a 2023 report by The Times of London, which alleged that some Chinese nationals involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, particularly in Zamfara and parts of the northwest, were linked to illicit payments benefiting armed groups, potentially enabling insecurity in the region.