The Bureau Newspaper | Abuja
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Yahaya Zango, at the Hajj camp in Abuja as Muslim pilgrims were being screened for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The arrest took place on Sunday during routine passport verification at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Zango, a resident of Paikon-Kore in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was reportedly on the watchlist of security agencies over his involvement in a series of kidnapping operations across the region.
A credible security source who spoke on condition of anonymity said DSS officers intercepted the suspect after he presented himself for the mandatory biometric screening alongside other pilgrims.
“The DSS officers flagged him during document checks and immediately took him into custody,” the source disclosed.
Officials of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, while confirming the incident, declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.
Daily Trust earlier reported that Zango had evaded capture for several months before being cornered at the Abuja airport.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating security challenges, with kidnapping now a widespread concern across all regions of the country. While the Northeast battles insurgents like Boko Haram and ISWAP, the North-Central and Northwest regions have become hotbeds for armed banditry and abductions for ransom.
Criminal gangs frequently operate from dense forests and remote enclaves, making their apprehension difficult for law enforcement agencies. The arrest of Zango at the Abuja Hajj camp marks a significant breakthrough in the efforts to clamp down on notorious criminals using religious activities as cover.
