DSS denies arrest attempt on El-Rufai, clarifies passport seizure at Abuja airport

The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied claims that its operatives attempted to arrest Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The agency clarified that only his passport was seized in response to a request by an anti-graft agency to ensure he honours an invitation.

The clarification followed a viral post by Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s media aide, who alleged that security operatives attempted to arrest the former governor on Thursday upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.

In a statement posted on his verified X account shortly after the incident, Adekeye wrote: “Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation.”

He further claimed that operatives seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter at the airport.

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However, a source within the DSS described the arrest claims as “false and misleading”, insisting that no attempt was made to detain El-Rufai.

According to the source, operatives acted in compliance with a request from an anti-graft agency by seizing his passport to ensure he honours an invitation extended to him.

“We only seized his passport in response to a request by an anti-graft agency so he would honour their invitation,” the source said.

The DSS source did not disclose the name of the anti-graft agency involved or the nature of the invitation reportedly issued to the former governor.

Adekeye, however, maintained that DSS operatives approached El-Rufai as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.

He alleged that the former governor declined to accompany them, insisting on a formal invitation, and that the passport was taken from one of his aides.

The development comes amid rising political tensions following recent remarks by El-Rufai suggesting he could be arrested by the Federal Government.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the former governor alleged that unfolding events pointed to him as a potential target of political intimidation against opposition figures.

El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said some of his associates had already been detained.

“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested, so it is only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.

While acknowledging that he had not been arrested, the former governor argued that the detention of his associates suggested possible action against him.

He further alleged that political pressure was being mounted on politicians to defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party, claiming that the current political climate was forcing many to act out of survival rather than conviction.