“Our Lives Are in Danger”: El-Rufai’s Wives Raise Alarm Over Surveillance, Phone Tapping

Asia Mohammed, one of the wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has raised a public alarm alleging that she and her co-wife, Aisattou, are under surveillance and that their phones have been compromised. Mohammed made the allegation in a Facebook post on Saturday, expressing fears for their safety and claiming that their lives were in danger. According to her, unidentified individuals are monitoring their movements and communications. “They are following me and Aisattou. Let the world know that if anything happens to us, the Government should explain. Our phones are bugged… our lives are in danger!” she wrote. The claims have since generated reactions on social media, with supporters and associates expressing concern and calling for an investigation into the allegations. However, Asia did not identify those allegedly responsible for the surveillance or provide evidence to substantiate her claims. As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by government authorities regarding the allegations.

The development comes amid growing concerns over El-Rufai’s continued detention and ongoing legal battles. The former Kaduna State governor, who is a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been facing legal challenges since February 12, 2026, when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly attempted to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after his return from Egypt. On the same day, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) invited him for questioning. Following the airport incident, El-Rufai alleged during an interview with Arise Television that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was behind the arrest order, claiming he knew this because he had intercepted and wiretapped the security chief’s private communications. When asked how he knew Ribadu made such a call, El-Rufai replied, “He made the call, because we listen to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways. He made the call; he gave the order.” Pressed further, “So you tapped his phone calls…??” El-Rufai answered, “Someone tapped his phone.” When reminded that wiretapping was technically illegal, El-Rufai said he knew, but the government does it all the time, explaining that they tap calls all the time without a court order.

READ ALSO:

• US, Iran Launch High-Stakes Nuclear Talks as Tehran Threatens Global Oil Lifeline
• Ekiti 2026: EU Observers Hail Peaceful Poll, 96% BVAS Performance
• Bandits Flee as Troops Rescue 17 Passengers, 5 Farmers in Sokoto Raids

The situation escalated on February 16, when El-Rufai voluntarily visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters over allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure as Kaduna State governor. After spending two days in EFCC custody, he was transferred to the ICPC on February 18, 2026, where he underwent further questioning and his Aso Drive residence was searched. His legal team later filed a fundamental rights suit challenging his continued detention, but more legal battles followed. In April 2026, the ICPC arraigned him on a nine-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud, money laundering, and procurement violations before the Kaduna State High Court, where he was remanded in custody. On April 14, 2026, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna granted El-Rufai bail of ₦200 million with strict conditions. However, a separate bail application at the Kaduna State High Court was rejected over concerns about his political influence.

The ICPC has defended his detention, insisting that its actions are guided strictly by the law and not politics. Commission spokesperson John Odey stated that El-Rufai remains in the commission’s custody based on a valid court remand order. “We are not detaining him on our own. We are following lawful orders. He is in our custody by court remand, so we don’t have any issues with that,” Odey said. He also rejected allegations that the anti-corruption agency was being used to pursue political objectives, maintaining that the ICPC prosecutes anyone found to have violated laws within its mandate, regardless of status or political affiliation.

El-Rufai is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services over allegations that he authorised the wiretapping of communications linked to the National Security Adviser. In April 2026, the DSS arraigned El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security. El-Rufai, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Count four of the amended charges reads: “That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, intentionally and without authorization, intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as admitted by you on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024”.

READ ALSO:

• Ekiti 2026: Governor Oyebanji Sweeps Polling Unit with 326 Votes as PDP Records Zero
• Argentine TV Presenter Resigns After Falsely Reporting Death of Lionel Messi’s Father
• #EkitiDecides2026: APC Leads Early Results as Vote Counting Begins

According to affidavits filed by the ICPC at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, operatives said they recovered “electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations” and “sensitive security documents capable of compromising national security” during a search of his residence. The ICPC also referenced remarks allegedly made by El-Rufai on Arise Television, stating that he admitted to tapping telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser. He was asked to give consent to enable the commission access the equipment, but he refused.

The family has refuted claims about sophisticated surveillance equipment. In March 2026, his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency, denied reports that sophisticated phone-tapping equipment and sensitive security documents were recovered during a raid on his father’s residence in Abuja. He described the claims as false and politically driven, accusing the commission of waging a “media war rather than adhere to the rule of law.” The family rejected the list of items allegedly seized, stating that only “old discarded personal mobile phones… storage devices like flash drives and laptops” were taken from the house. “We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones, storage devices like flash drives and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were seized from the property,” the family said. They further claimed the search warrant used for the operation was invalid and has been challenged in court. “Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said, adding that the warrant was obtained fraudulently.

Addressing claims that El-Rufai did not cooperate with investigators, the family said his silence was a constitutional right. “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent. This is not an act of non-cooperation; it is a fundamental human right,” the statement read. Quoting the former governor, the family added, “Charge me, if you have anything against me. You have had more than 2 years to investigate me. Take me to court, please”.

In May 2026, the family also alleged that DSS operatives attempted to take El-Rufai into custody shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, violating existing court orders directing that he remain in ICPC custody. Speaking outside the DSS facility in Abuja, Hasiat El-Rufai accused security agencies of subjecting the family to intimidation, surveillance and psychological pressure, stating: “We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat — DSS is coming to raid your house, ICPC is coming to raid your house, police are coming to raid your house. You are being followed. Our phones are tapped”. According to her, El-Rufai had been denied access to his personal doctors despite an earlier Kaduna High Court order granting him unrestricted access to lawyers and physicians.

Bello El-Rufai also criticized the bail conditions imposed, arguing they were excessively stringent: “Who keeps a person for 91 days? Why were the terms of the bail so stringent that it is practically impossible for anybody to meet?” He further accused the ICPC of issuing misleading statements and disclosed plans to submit a formal petition to the House of Representatives.

The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has also engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based international advocacy firm, to campaign against what it described as the erosion of the rule of law and abuse of due process in Nigeria. The group described El-Rufai as “an accomplished reformer and senior statesman with decades of public service,” while rejecting the allegations against him. Speaking for the association, Mohammed Salihu said the case raised concerns about the state of democratic institutions in Nigeria: “The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.” The group called on the United States Government, international democratic institutions and civil society organisations to closely monitor developments in Nigeria and defend due process, judicial independence and democratic freedoms.

“Our Lives Are in Danger”: El-Rufai’s Wives Raise Alarm Over Surveillance, Phone Tapping

Pregnant, Bleeding, and Still Forced to Work: The Unthinkable Ordeal of 7 Nigerian Teens

In a devastating betrayal of trust, seven young Nigerian women—most still teenagers—were lured across West African borders by friends and relatives with promises of legitimate jobs, only to be trapped in a brutal sex trafficking network where they were forced to service multiple men daily, even during pregnancy and menstruation.

For these seven young Nigerian women, most of whom are teenagers, the nightmare began not with strangers lurking in shadows, but with familiar faces—friends, relatives, and community members who presented themselves as trusted helpers offering a lifeline out of poverty. The recruiters claimed to have connections abroad who could secure decent jobs in boutiques, restaurants, salons, and homes. What awaited the young girls across the border, however, was a brutal reality of deception, coercion, and exploitation. Their rescue by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO) , working with authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) , is more than a narrative of survival. It is a chilling reminder of how human traffickers increasingly rely on trusted agents, relatives, and acquaintances to lure vulnerable young people into modern-day slavery.

For 22-year-old Sunday Sofia, known in Mali as “Testie,” the trap was carefully laid. Working as a maid and sales assistant in a Lagos boutique for just ₦20,000 monthly, she dreamed of earning more to support her family and younger siblings. When a friend introduced her to what appeared to be a better opportunity, she saw hope. “It was one of my friends who told me she had secured another job for me,” Sofia recalled. “I accepted thinking it was a legitimate job. We were told we were going to work as housekeepers.” Instead, she found herself trapped in Mali, far from home and stripped of every right she once took for granted.

READ ALSO:

• Ekiti 2026: EU Observers Hail Peaceful Poll, 96% BVAS Performance
• Bandits Flee as Troops Rescue 17 Passengers, 5 Farmers in Sokoto Raids
• Ekiti 2026: Governor Oyebanji Sweeps Polling Unit with 326 Votes as PDP Records Zero

Her story mirrors those of 17-year-old Blessing Samson, Esther Gyang, Odey Blessing, and others who were allegedly recruited through a network of agents who presented themselves as trusted helpers. Blessing said a man identified as Peter approached them in their hometown in Plateau State with what sounded like a life-changing opportunity. “He told us his sister had a business in Mali and needed people to work with her,” Blessing stated. The girls were promised jobs in boutiques, restaurants, and phone shops. They repeatedly sought assurances, suspicious of the too-good-to-be-true offer. “We asked him if it was really the work he told us we were going there to do. We even asked if it was hookup work. He said no,” recalled Odey Blessing, known as “Beauty.” 22-year-old Sandy Sophia, also from Plateau State, echoed this sentiment: “I asked countless times if it was prostitution, and they kept telling me it was not. It was only after we reached Burkina Faso that they finally admitted it was prostitution.”

The assurances were enough. They packed their bags, filled with hope and dreams of a better life. The moment they crossed the border, the dream died. Upon arrival in Mali, the girls were taken not to boutiques or restaurants but to bars where other young women greeted them with a phrase they did not understand at the time. “The following day, reality became impossible to ignore. They told us there was no boutique or phone plaza. They said it was prostitution,” Odey said. The girls cried. They pleaded. They begged. But they were told they had no choice.

One alleged trafficker reportedly informed them they owed 1.5 million CFA Francs each—approximately ₦4 million—and could only repay the debt through sex work. This tactic of debt bondage is a common tool used by trafficking networks to control their victims, creating a cycle of exploitation that seems impossible to escape. “They started starving us for three days. We had no option. What followed were weeks of exploitation. Some of us had to service multiple men daily while struggling to repay debts that seemed impossible to clear,” Odey recounted. According to Odey, there were no breaks—even during menstruation. “Even when we were having our menstrual cycle, we still had to sleep with men,” she said.

READ ALSO:

• Argentine TV Presenter Resigns After Falsely Reporting Death of Lionel Messi’s Father
• #EkitiDecides2026: APC Leads Early Results as Vote Counting Begins
• VIDEO: Drama as Ekiti Voters Chase EFCC Operatives Out of Polling Unit

Perhaps the most disturbing revelation from the rescue operation is how pregnancy became another layer of vulnerability rather than a shield from exploitation. 20-year-old Augusta Akoghamhen said the recruitment began through a relative of her father. The man allegedly assured the family that she would work as a domestic employee for foreigners and would travel by air. Because the information came through someone known to the family, suspicion never arose. “My father agreed because he believed the job was legitimate,” Augusta said. The journey eventually took more than a week by road. When they arrived, the promises vanished. “They didn’t even allow us rest from the stress of the travel. That same evening we were forced to start working. The work, I discovered, was prostitution. At the time, I was already pregnant. Unfortunately, pregnancy offered no protection,” she recalled. Augusta said she was beaten whenever she resisted working. “Anytime I refused to work because I was not feeling well, my boss attacked me. Despite being pregnant, I was expected to continue servicing clients while handing over virtually all earnings,” Augusta noted.

Elizabeth, another survivor who was trafficked alongside Augusta, experienced the same cruelty. “If they had told me it was prostitution, I would not have agreed to travel. My trafficker continued demanding work despite my advancing pregnancy. She said we would continue to work until we gave birth,” Elizabeth said. The dehumanization was complete when Elizabeth discovered she had become a commodity in a dispute between traffickers. “What shocked me most was discovering I had effectively become a commodity in a dispute between my boss, Osas, and her co-trafficker, Aisha. She refused and said except Aisha would buy me. I became a commodity for sale,” Elizabeth recounted.

Several of the girls recounted threats that they would go mad if they attempted to escape. Blessing remembered being warned repeatedly. “Our madam threatened that we would run mad if we refused to work or escape,” Blessing stated. The threats were designed to exploit cultural fears and keep victims psychologically trapped, demonstrating the sophisticated manipulation tactics employed by trafficking rings.

Despite the intimidation, the girls quietly began planning their escape. Ironically, one of the people who eventually helped rescue the girls was someone they knew from home. Sofia recalled meeting a man from their village who worked in Mali. “We knew him in our village before we travelled. He knows us and he knows our parents. When he discovered our situation, he promised to help,” she said. That intervention eventually connected the victims to GAHTO, setting in motion a rescue effort that would bring them back to Nigeria. For Augusta, the turning point came when she secretly reached out to her father in Nigeria. The message triggered a chain of events that eventually reached GAHTO and NAPTIP.

READ ALSO:

• #EkitiDecides2026: Fayose Predicts Landslide Victory for Oyebanji
• Tinubu proved me wrong in Kwara, By Farooq Kperogi
• Oba of Benin Summons Native Doctors, Priests Over Rising Kidnapping in Edo

GAHTO coordinated efforts leading to the rescue of Augusta and Elizabeth from Burkina Faso, after which they were received by NAPTIP’s Benin Zonal Command upon arrival in Nigeria. For the five girls rescued from Mali—Sunday Sofia, Blessing Samson, Esther Gyang, Odey Blessing, and Rose Pam—the intervention also brought an end to months of fear and uncertainty. Most returned home with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Some lost personal belongings; others worked for months without compensation. Yet all returned with something more valuable: freedom.

For Sofia, who spent two months in Mali, returning home felt like being given a second chance. “My greatest regret is travelling to Mali. I am happy to see myself in Nigeria. I won’t go back again,” Sofia declared. Today, she hopes to return to hairdressing and complete the apprenticeship she abandoned in pursuit of a better life. “I want to complete my hairdressing training. I was learning before I left, and I want to continue. I don’t want to experience that kind of life again,” she said.

These young women were not kidnapped by strangers lurking in dark corners. Many were recruited by people they knew: friends, relatives, neighbours, and trusted community members. The traffickers understood a painful truth: trust opens doors that force cannot. According to NAPTIP, human trafficking remains a major challenge in Nigeria. In 2025 alone, NAPTIP rescued over 370 Nigerian trafficking victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and other West African states, reflecting ongoing cross-border trafficking networks within the region. The agency also secured 93 convictions of human traffickers and intercepted more than 2,500 potential victims of trafficking both within Nigeria and across borders. The agency has noted that Edo and Delta States remain high-risk zones for human trafficking due to proximity to international borders and high migration pressure.

GAHTO’s founder, Prosper K.A. Michael, emphasized that poverty remains the primary driver of the crime: “When young people lack opportunities and parents are struggling, traffickers step in with false promises. We must tackle poverty and strengthen family bonds to protect our children.” The survivors’ stories exposed how false promises of jobs, education, and prosperity continue to lure vulnerable young Nigerians across borders into exploitation through recruitment by trusted connections, cross-border transportation, debt bondage, forced prostitution, psychological manipulation, and exploitation of vulnerability even during pregnancy and illness.

Anti-trafficking advocates and survivors themselves agree that meaningful change requires strengthening border controls to intercept trafficking networks, launching public awareness campaigns in high-risk communities, implementing economic empowerment programs to reduce vulnerability, ensuring stricter prosecution of traffickers including those who recruit through trusted networks, providing support services for survivors including counseling and job training, and offering community education to help families recognize recruitment tactics. Today, Sofia dreams of reopening her path to becoming a professional hairdresser. Others hope to return to school, rebuild their lives, and reunite with their families. For them, the journey home is a new beginning—and a powerful reminder that no promise of quick wealth is worth the price of freedom. Their stories are not just tales of survival. They are a call to action for governments, communities, and individuals to stand against human trafficking and protect the vulnerable among us.

Pregnant, Bleeding, and Still Forced to Work: The Unthinkable Ordeal of 7 Nigerian Teens

Abia Police Arrests Man Captured Assaulting Woman In Viral Video

Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) , Abia State Command, led by CSP Emeka Amanchukwu, have arrested the man seen physically assaulting a woman in a viral video that circulated widely on social media. The suspect was arrested on Saturday around the Ogbor Hill area of Aba following credible intelligence received by the unit, acting swiftly on the information to track down and apprehend the suspect. The Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) is a newly established specialised police unit inaugurated by the Abia State Police Command on May 19, 2026, following a rigorous process of screening, selection, and specialised training. The unit, which operates under the oversight of a Civilian Oversight Board comprising representatives from the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, human rights bodies, the Nigerian Bar Association, and Amnesty International, is specifically mandated to respond to and investigate all forms of violent crimes across Abia State with speed, precision, and professionalism. The VCRU has established a fully equipped operational base at Orji Uzor Kalu Bridge, Aba, with additional sub-units across the state, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all suspects are respected at all times.

READ ALSO:

• Ekiti 2026: EU Observers Hail Peaceful Poll, 96% BVAS Performance
• Bandits Flee as Troops Rescue 17 Passengers, 5 Farmers in Sokoto Raids
• Ekiti 2026: Governor Oyebanji Sweeps Polling Unit with 326 Votes as PDP Records Zero

The VCRU reiterated its resolve to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice and has urged residents to continue providing useful information to aid security agencies in maintaining law and order across the state. Recall that the Abia State Police Command had earlier announced that it had commenced an investigation into the viral video. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed that the command had taken up the matter and initiated investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all parties involved. According to the statement, the police strongly condemned the alleged assault, stressing that violence against any individual is a criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law. DSP Chinaka emphasised that domestic violence, physical abuse, and other forms of assault have no place in a civilised society.

The Command reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens and ensuring that perpetrators of violence are brought to justice. DSP Chinaka noted that the police remain dedicated to enforcing the law without fear or favour and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of ongoing investigations. In line with the reform agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, the Abia State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa, has emphasised that acts of impunity, misconduct, or abuse of power will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The Command has also warned that all forms of domestic abuse and gender-based violence will not be tolerated under any guise, urging victims and witnesses to report such incidents through appropriate channels.

As investigations continue, the Abia State Police Command assured residents that updates would be provided as necessary and reaffirmed its resolve to tackle all forms of violence and criminality within the state. The arrest of the suspect marks a significant victory for the newly inaugurated Violent Crime Response Unit and signals the command’s commitment to proactive, intelligence-led policing in Abia State.

Abia Police Arrests Man Captured Assaulting Woman In Viral Video