The Thallium Sulphate Scandal: Poison Politics or National Security?

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Nigeria’s political landscape has been jolted by a fresh controversy following revelations from former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who petitioned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, over an alleged importation of thallium sulphate, a lethal, highly prohibited substance.

El-Rufai’s letter, dated January 30, 2026, and acknowledged by the NSA’s office on February 11, may have ignited fears of covert political elimination ahead of the 2027 general elections. Thallium, often dubbed the “poisoner’s poison,” is odourless, tasteless, and water-soluble. Experts say a mere gram can kill an adult, even as reports suggest that 10 kilograms were imported; hitting off immediate anxiety within the nation’s political space.

The importation of thallium sulphate which falls under Nigeria’s End-User-Certificate regime, is issued solely by the NSA’s office. Its presence in official procurement channels has rightly, raised disturbing questions:

-Why would the Presidency authorize the importation of a substance historically linked to assassinations and covert operations?

-What legitimate use could justify bringing such a toxin into Nigeria’s political and security space?

-Why has the Presidency remained silent despite the gravity of the allegations?

Whereas this scandal cannot be divorced from the frosty relationship between El-Rufai and Ribadu, teir rivalry dates back years, marked by mutual suspicion and political maneuvering. While Ribadu once headed the dreaded Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), El-Rufai, a maverick politician and former Kaduna State governor, have clashed over influence, credibility, and political survival.

The attempted arrest of El-Rufai by Department of State Security (DSS) operatives at Abuja Airport last week, allegedly orchestrated by Ribadu has only deepened suspicions. El-Rufai claims his phone was tapped and his movements monitored, fueling speculation that the thallium saga is either part of the bile politics or a broader strategy to neutralize dissenting voices ahead of 2027 general elections.

While Ribadu is a key ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), El-Rufai PBAT estranged political stalwart has since left the APC and is currently the arrow head of  one of the frontline leading opposition parties, the All Democratic Congress (ADC).

The timing of this controversy, as Nigeria’s political tempo accelerates toward the next elections, has heightened public anxiety. The specter of thallium sulphate as a possible purveyor for the use of clandestine elimination of opponents rings very concerning, given its deadly properties and recorded historical use in covert killings.

Pundits say El-Rufai’s decision to copy opposition parties (ADC, PDP) and regulatory agencies (NAFDAC, NCDC) in his petition underscores the seriousness of his concerns and his attempt to force transparency.

Tongues are already wagging about the deafening silence from the presidency and the NSA’s office; as there are silent grumblings in some quarters about the need for Nigerians to get official clarification on the matter.

*Was thallium sulphate imported, and if so, for what purpose?

*Who authorized the procurement and importation?

*What safeguards exist to prevent its misuse against political opponents?

There is no doubt that failure to provide timely and convincing answers risks eroding public trust and fueling fears of state-sponsored elimination. Nigeria cannot afford to let this scandal be swept under the rug. If thallium sulphate was indeed imported, the people deserve to know why. If it was not, the government should prove it.

The stakes are existential. In the absence of clarity, suspicion festers. And suspicion, in a fragile democracy, is itself a poison.