VIDEO: Security agents attempt to arrest El-Rufai at airport, seize passport

Security agents on Thursday allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at an airport in Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt.

The incident was disclosed by El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who said operatives approached the former governor shortly after he disembarked from his flight.

According to Adekeye, the security agents sought to arrest El-Rufai, but he declined to accompany them, insisting that he would only respond to a formal written invitation.

In video footage circulating on social media, El-Rufai is seen surrounded by his supporters while a team of security operatives, purportedly from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), attempted to arrest him.

“If you want to invite me, write me a letter,” El-Rufai was quoted as telling officials at the airport security office.

Adekeye further alleged that the operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides after he refused to go with them without official documentation.

“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. They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” the statement read in part.

Claims that operatives of the EFCC were involved in the attempted arrest remain unverified, as the commission had yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report. Sources close to the former governor said he later left the airport in the company of his supporters following the standoff.