- Allegedly imports secret elimination substance
- Opposition parties on edge
In a new development that presupposes an accusation that the Presidency may have been tinkering with eliminating its political enemies ahead of 2027 elections,
former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has written to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, seeking clarification over reports that thallium sulphate (Tl₂SO₄) was imported by the NSA’s office.
In his petition titled: “Request for Clarification on the Procurement of Thallium Sulphate”, dated January 30, 2026, El-Rufai stated,
“As part of my duty as a citizen, I wrote to the NSA to seek clarification on reports about the importation by his office of thallium sulphate, a very dangerous toxin. It’s a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, more so an odourless, colourless one.”
The petition was received and acknowledged by the office of NSA on February 11,2026, raising a more credible reason the security agents wanted the ex-governor arrested.
Thallium is often called the “Poison” because it is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and water soluble, meaning it can be administered without a victim’s knowledge.
A dose of about 1 gram Thallium can kill an adult.
The reports mentioned 10kg, which is theoretically enough to cause tens of thousands of deaths.
Historically, thallium has been linked to covert assassinations and the elimination of political dissidents by secret police or agencies.
Recall that the operatives of the Department of Security Service(DSS)had made an unsuccessful attempt at arresting El-Rufai on his return from Egypt on Monday, last week, at the Abuja Airport, Nigeria.
Subsequently, he alleged that his arrest was orchestrated by the National Security Adviser(NSA) whom he claimed to have tapped his phone conversation to that effect.
This has since elicited controversy on the propriety and otherwise of his action, raising more questions on why NSA wanted him arrested as no official statement has emanated from the office of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu or the presidency.
The alleged importation of this lethal substance by the office of the NSA has not only raised concerns on whether it is a normal work substance of the office but heightened tension in the political space as regards secret elimination of political opponents of the ruling party.
El-Rufai, in his petition, copied the Advanced Democratic Congress(ADC), Peoples Democratic party(PDP), National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control(NAFDAC), and the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(NCDC).
