Rita Odafe
Agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) have detained a notorious kidnapper at the Hajj camp in Abuja while screening individuals set to travel to Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by a reliable security source to Daily Trust.
The accused, known as Yahaya Zango, was taken into custody on Sunday.
Living in the Paikon-Kore region of Gwagwalada Area Council within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Zango had reportedly been on the run due to his alleged participation in several kidnapping cases.
The source indicated that Zango was caught after he showed his passport among a group of pilgrims from Abuja ready for this year’s Hajj.
“It was during the screening process at the airport hajj camp this afternoon when the DSS officials detained him and took him away,” the source stated.
An official from the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, who chose to remain unnamed, corroborated the news of the suspect’s arrest.
According to Daily Trust, Zango had been evading capture following a security operation targeting him.
The DSS has not yet released an official statement about this incident.
Nigeria is currently facing a variety of security challenges across its regions. In the Northeast, groups like Boko Haram and its affiliate, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been conducting a violent insurgency since 2009, leading to significant loss of life, displacement of millions, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
In the Northwest and parts of North-Central, armed gangs engage in cattle theft, armed robbery, and large-scale kidnappings for ransom. They often operate from difficult terrains, complicating efforts by security forces to capture them.
Kidnapping has evolved into a nationwide crisis, impacting not just the North, but also the Southern and Middle Belt regions. It has become a profitable criminal activity, targeting students, government officials, businesspeople, and everyday citizens.
