Security operatives on Thursday reportedly tried to detain former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The allegation was made by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who disclosed the development in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account shortly after the incident.
According to Adekeye, the former governor had just returned from Cairo, Egypt, when security personnel approached him at the airport with the intention of taking him into custody.
He stated that El-Rufai declined the request, insisting that he would not comply without receiving a formal written invitation or official communication.
Adekeye said the former governor maintained that due process must be followed before he could honour any engagement with security authorities.
He further alleged that during the encounter, operatives confiscated El-Rufai’s passport. The travel document, he claimed, was taken from one of the former governor’s aides at the scene.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by any security agency confirming or denying the incident.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023, remains a prominent political figure.
The reported development comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, although the exact circumstances surrounding the airport encounter remain unclear.
Further details are expected as authorities respond to the allegations.
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