Interpol Red List Criminals Arrested at Airports — Minister of Interior

In a major win for national security, Nigeria’s airport security systems have helped arrest several international criminals trying to enter the country. This was revealed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a regional workshop on maritime border security held in Lagos.

Speaking at the event titled “Regional Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea,” the minister explained that individuals on the red list of the International Police (Interpol) were caught at Nigerian airports. These arrests were made within just two days, thanks to new surveillance and intelligence-gathering tools installed at the nation’s border points.

“A few weeks ago, within just two days, many people on the Interpol red list were arrested at our airports,” the minister said. “One came from Italy, another from Ireland, and others from different countries.”

Tunji-Ojo credited these successful arrests to Nigeria’s updated and integrated airport database. He pointed out that if such technology had been missing, these individuals could have entered Nigeria unnoticed—just like many others might have done years ago.

He added, “Now, our air terminals are connected to a central system. This means if someone is on the wanted list, we are alerted before they even land.”

Another important update is Nigeria’s introduction of the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system. This new solution helps immigration officers screen passengers before they enter the country.

Before now, Nigeria did not have this technology. However, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the country has adopted the API system, bringing it in line with global standards.

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“We never had the capacity to pre-profile passengers,” Tunji-Ojo said. “But now, we can check a person’s background, travel history, and records before they even arrive in Nigeria.”

This means Nigeria can now fulfill its international duties by following the United Nations’ resolution on border safety and passenger screening.

Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), also spoke at the event. She highlighted the role of immigration officers in protecting Nigeria’s borders—especially at sea.

She explained that foreign terrorist fighters and other dangerous individuals could use weak maritime borders to sneak into the country. Therefore, the NIS works to make sure that Nigeria’s territorial waters are not misused by criminals.

Nandap also mentioned several threats to Nigeria’s maritime security, including: illegal oil bunkering, unauthorized fishing, piracy, armed robbery and other oil-related crimes. These activities not only damage the economy but also put ships and their crews at serious risk.

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