The National Security Service of Iraq reported on Friday that it arrested Ajaj Ahmed Hardan, also known as hajjaj Nukrah Al-Salman, a top fugitive from the previous regime, in Muthanna province.
According to a statement from the service: Following specialized operations targeting criminals linked to the former regime and after six months of precise intelligence work, security teams in Muthanna province coordinated with forces in southern salahuddin province to detain one of the key officials from Saddam Hussein’s government.
The statement detailed that this fugitive, nicknamed Hajjaj Nukrah Al-Salman, previously served as a security officer at the notorious Nukrah Al-Salman prison. During Saddam’s dictatorship, he held multiple security posts including officer roles in Ramitha, Najmiya, Hilal districts and Basiyah area.He also served as a senior security official throughout Muthanna province. He was actively involved in executing and burying victims in mass graves. The accused committed heinous crimes such as torture, murder and rape against hundreds of Iraqi citizens-particularly Kurds forcibly relocated to Muthanna.
The statement added that while his family falsely claimed he had died to mislead security agencies, intelligence efforts combined with data analysis and prior confessions led to uncovering his hiding place in Salahuddin. After obtaining judicial authorization and recording victim testimonies, forces conducted the arrest operation. The suspect has been handed over to competent authorities for legal proceedings.
