DSS arrests wanted kidnapper at Abuja hajj camp

A major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was recorded on Sunday when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested a wanted suspect, Yahaya Zango, during screening exercises for Muslim pilgrims at the hajj camp in Abuja.

Zango, a resident of Paikon-Kore in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was reportedly on the security watchlist for his alleged involvement in multiple kidnapping operations across the region.

According to a reliable security source, Zango was apprehended after presenting his travel documents while preparing to join other pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. His arrest was carried out discreetly by DSS operatives at the airport-based hajj camp, who then whisked him away for further interrogation.

“It was this afternoon during the screening at the hajj camp at the airport when the DSS operatives apprehended him,” the source said.

A senior official of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed the arrest and noted that Zango had been under investigation and on the run prior to his capture.

Though the DSS has not yet released an official statement, the arrest highlights the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria, where kidnapping has evolved into a widespread criminal enterprise.

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Zango’s arrest underscores a national security landscape plagued by various threats. In the North-East, insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to pose grave danger, while in the North-West and North-Central, armed bandits are notorious for kidnappings, cattle rustling, and armed robbery.

Kidnapping for ransom has also become a lucrative crime across Nigeria, affecting schools, businesses, and communities in both urban and rural areas. The difficulty in tracking perpetrators—often shielded by rough terrain and weak local enforcement—has made arrests like Zango’s both rare and significant.

Authorities are expected to release more information following ongoing investigations into the suspect’s activities and possible connections to wider criminal networks.