Globally Wanted Criminals by Interpol Arrested in Nigeria

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that several criminals declared wanted by various countries across Europe and on the red list of International Police (INTERPOL) have been arrested at Nigerian airports.

The arrests were made possible due to the federal government’s heavy investment in surveillance and intelligence-gathering equipment at the nation’s border points.

Speaking at a regional workshop on Maritime Border Security, titled “Regional Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea,” held in Lagos, Minister Tunji-Ojo revealed that the arrests were made within a two-day period, just two weeks ago.

The minister stated that the criminals, who came from countries such as Italy and Ireland, would have gained entry into Nigeria 18 years ago, but were apprehended due to the country’s improved border security measures.

According to Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria has built a robust database and is reaping the benefits of its investment in surveillance and intelligence-gathering equipment.

“We can tell you that to a large extent, we have built a robust database, and we are reaping the fruits of that. Now, it will interest you that a couple of weeks ago, within two days, a lot of people on Interpol and red list were arrested at our airports. It means that these people would have come in,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria, for the first time, has implemented an Advance Passenger Information (API) system, which is used to profile passengers coming into the country. The API system allows immigration officers to query passengers’ records, antecedents, and travel history before they arrive in Nigeria.

“Now, we can tell you that Nigeria now has an API solution. We never had that before now. Before now, we are one of the few countries without an API solution, without the opportunity of our immigration officers to pre-profile people coming into Nigeria, not being able to query their background, query their record system, query their antecedents and their travel history,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, also spoke at the workshop, emphasizing the importance of maritime border security in preventing foreign terrorist fighters and other criminal elements from exploiting the nation’s territorial integrity. According to Nandap, maritime insecurity from illegal oil bunkering, fishing, piracy, armed robbery, and oil-related crimes threatens vessel and crew safety, and undermines regional stability and economic growth.

However, the region is also plagued by piracy, terrorism, and other transnational organized crimes, which threaten vessel and crew safety, and hinder economic growth and integration. The workshop emphasized the need for sound policies, capacity building, community engagement, collaboration, and regional partnerships to tackle these challenges.