Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was reportedly the target of an attempted arrest by security agents upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, according to an aide.
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The claim was made by one of El-Rufai’s close associates, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleging that operatives from a security agency (identity not specified) moved to detain the former governor immediately after he disembarked from his flight.
According to the aide, the attempt was thwarted after El-Rufai’s security detail and airport protocol officers intervened, allowing him to leave the premises without being taken into custody. The aide described the incident as “an orchestrated move to intimidate and silence a vocal critic of the current administration.”
No official statement has been issued by the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), or any other security agency confirming or denying the attempted arrest.
El-Rufai, who has been a sharp critic of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and governance style in recent months, recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has been vocal in his support for opposition realignment ahead of 2027.
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The reported incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with hashtags #FreeElRufai, #StopIntimidation, and #DemocracyUnderThreat trending in Nigeria.
This is a developing story. DDNewsOnline is working to independently verify the claims and obtain official responses from relevant security agencies.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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