A notorious bandit, Yahaya Zango, who has long been on the wanted list of Nigerian security agencies, was arrested at the Hajj Camp in Abuja while attempting to flee the country under the guise of a pilgrim heading to Saudi Arabia.
Zango’s arrest took place during the routine security screening of intending pilgrims at the camp, located near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. His capture has not only heightened scrutiny around the country’s annual Hajj pilgrimage but has also triggered a wider probe into the use of religious travel as a cover for criminal suspects to escape justice.
Caught While Boarding Hajj Bus
According to a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Zango was apprehended while boarding a bus with other pilgrims heading to the airport for their flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His arrest was the result of what the source described as “credible intelligence and close surveillance” carried out within the camp over the past few days.
“After our agents received a tip-off, we enhanced monitoring and put the camp under discreet surveillance. During verification, Zango’s true identity was uncovered. He was arrested quietly and taken into custody without causing a scene,” the source said.
Zango is now in custody and is being interrogated by security agencies. His arrest is expected to lead to further investigations that may expose other members of his criminal syndicate, which is suspected to be behind several acts of banditry and kidnapping in northern Nigeria.
Others Under Watch
In a disturbing development, at least four more individuals suspected to have ties to known bandit leaders are reportedly among those scheduled to travel for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage via Abuja.
Among them is a man identified as Madele, who is believed to be the father of one of Nigeria’s most wanted bandit kingpins, Ado Aliero. Aliero has been implicated in multiple cases of mass kidnappings, attacks on rural communities, and cattle rustling in Zamfara and neighbouring states.
Also on the watchlist is a woman described as the mother of another dreaded bandit commander, Gwaska Dankarami, whose group is linked to several deadly ambushes and violent raids in the North-West. The other two suspects include Bello Bazamfare and a sibling of Ado Aliero, further suggesting an attempt by family members of these fugitives to evade surveillance or possibly launder criminal funds through pilgrimage travel.
Security agencies are now said to be working around the clock to identify and isolate these individuals before they are allowed to board any international flight. Additional layers of screening have reportedly been deployed at both the Hajj Camp and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Background: Religious Cover for Escape
This is not the first time Nigerian authorities have raised concerns about suspected criminals attempting to use religious pilgrimages to escape justice.
In 2024, reports emerged that 14 individuals with links to banditry were sponsored for Hajj by unknown sources. Of the 14, three were apprehended upon their return to Nigeria. However, one of them was controversially released in what many viewed as a setback for the fight against insecurity.
The inability of the authorities to hold all 14 accountable prompted questions about loopholes in the screening process for intending pilgrims, particularly from northern Nigeria where several bandit groups have operated unchecked in remote forested areas.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have both pledged to support security agencies by ensuring that only law-abiding citizens participate in the Hajj exercise.
Despite these assurances, incidents like Zango’s arrest continue to reveal cracks in the system.
Heightened Security Measures for 2025 Hajj
This year, security agencies appear more alert. According to a senior intelligence officer involved in the Abuja operation, all lists of intending pilgrims are now undergoing thorough background checks in collaboration with national security databases.
“Every name on the travel manifest is being scrutinized. We are not leaving anything to chance,” the officer said.
He added that travel agencies and state Muslim pilgrim welfare boards are being asked to verify the sources of funds used for Hajj payments, especially for individuals coming from high-risk areas notorious for bandit activities.
Additionally, undercover officers have reportedly been deployed to various camps to pick out suspicious behaviours or travel arrangements that may indicate an attempt to escape from criminal prosecution.
Public Outrage and Calls for Accountability
Zango’s attempted escape has triggered outrage on social media and among civil society groups, with many calling for a full investigation into how he was able to reach the camp despite being on a security watchlist.
Human rights activist and executive director of a security-focused NGO, Dr. Musa Ibrahim, described the development as “a dangerous signal” that criminals may be exploiting the Hajj process to evade law enforcement.
“It’s not just about arresting one man. We need to know who facilitated his inclusion on the pilgrims’ list. Was it a religious board? Was it a corrupt travel agency? These are the questions the government must answer,” Dr. Ibrahim said in a statement.
He also urged the Federal Government to work closely with Saudi authorities to share intelligence on any Nigerian arriving in the kingdom with a red flag or questionable travel history.
Banditry in Northern Nigeria: A National Crisis
Nigeria has faced a worsening security crisis in recent years, with banditry in the North-West and North-Central regions taking centre stage.
Hundreds of schoolchildren have been abducted since 2021 in mass kidnappings orchestrated by armed groups seeking ransom payments. Communities in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and Katsina states have suffered repeated attacks, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Despite several military operations, peace deals, and government amnesty programmes, the bandits continue to operate from forested hideouts, benefiting from weak governance, porous borders, and illicit arms trafficking.
The arrest of Zango and the revelation of other suspected bandit allies preparing to travel for Hajj has once again exposed the sophistication of these criminal networks, and their ability to infiltrate public systems under false identities.
Next Steps
As of Sunday evening, security operatives were said to be intensifying their search for the four other suspects named in the intelligence reports. It remains unclear whether the authorities will stop them at the airport or apprehend them quietly within the Hajj Camp to avoid public panic.
Meanwhile, Nigerians are watching closely, with many hoping this will mark a turning point in the country’s efforts to clamp down on criminal elements trying to hide behind religious privileges.
Security sources say Zango’s arrest may offer key insights into the movement of funds, communication patterns, and the safe houses used by bandit leaders across the North.
If fully investigated and prosecuted, the case could serve as a powerful warning to others attempting to abuse religious pilgrimages to escape justice.
