Wanted Kidnap Suspect Yahaya Zango Arrested By DSS At Abuja Hajj Camp

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a man identified as Yahaya Zango, who is reportedly wanted in connection with multiple kidnapping cases. The arrest took place on Sunday during a routine screening of Muslim pilgrims at the Hajj camp in Abuja.

According to a credible security source, Zango was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while submitting his travel documents for the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The source said DSS operatives had been tracking his movements and seized the opportunity to arrest him discreetly during passport verification.

“He was identified and arrested during the screening process and taken into custody immediately,” the source said.

Zango, a resident of Paikon-Kore in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had reportedly been on the run for several months. Security agencies had launched a manhunt over his alleged role in a series of high-profile abductions in and around the FCT.

Though the DSS has not released an official statement, a senior official of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board confirmed the arrest, noting that the operation did not disrupt the travel plans of other pilgrims.

Zango’s arrest highlights a growing trend where criminal suspects exploit large gatherings, such as religious events, to evade capture or disguise their identities. The Hajj screening provided security forces a rare opportunity to detain him without causing panic.

Nigeria continues to grapple with a surge in kidnappings. In the Northwest and North-Central regions, armed bandits and criminal gangs routinely carry out mass abductions, often for ransom. In the Northeast, Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active insurgents, while the South sees sporadic cases tied to cult groups and political actors.

Security experts are urging improved biometric systems, inter-agency collaboration, and technology deployment to track fugitives attempting to flee through airports, seaports, or porous borders.

This incident serves as a reminder that religious pilgrimages are not immune to security threats. It underscores the importance of intelligence-led operations during high-mobility periods. Zango’s arrest, just days before Nigerian pilgrims depart for the 2025 Hajj, reinforces the need for enhanced screening and vigilance.

Further updates are expected once the DSS releases an official statement.