NIMC Database Aids Arrest of Boko Haram Commanders

On a recent Thursday, seven known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP were arrested at Katsina Airport upon their return from Hajj. This operation was made possible through the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with the Nigeria Immigration Service database, which is connected to Interpol.

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, disclosed this information at the Presidential Villa in Abuja shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 into law. The new law aims to enhance Nigeria's security architecture by improving inter-agency collaboration and strengthening the national identification number system.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of a unified identification system to combat identity theft and terrorism financing. He noted that the current system is fragmented, affecting processes like passport issuance and driver's license applications.