BREAKING: DSS Apprehends 6 Suspected Bandits at Kaduna Airport Upon Return from Hajj

By Emmanuel Kwada

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested six suspected bandits, comprising three men and three women, at Kaduna International Airport early this morning.

The arrests were made at approximately 3:40 a.m. as the suspects returned from performing the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to sources familiar with the operation.

The suspects, whose identities have not been officially disclosed, were reportedly trailed by DSS operatives and apprehended during routine screening at the airport’s Hajj terminal.

The operation is part of heightened security measures to curb the infiltration of criminal elements during pilgrimage activities, following concerns raised in 2024 when 14 suspected bandits were allegedly sponsored for Hajj, with three apprehended upon their return.

The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation to determine their involvement in banditry and related crimes in Nigeria’s northwest region, particularly in Kaduna and Zamfara states

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation to determine their involvement in banditry and related crimes in Nigeria’s northwest region, particularly in Kaduna and Zamfara states.

“These individuals were flagged based on credible intelligence. Their arrest is a significant step in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks exploiting religious activities,” the source said.

Kaduna State has been a hotspot for banditry, with frequent attacks on communities, highways, and even critical infrastructure like the Kaduna International Airport, which was invaded by bandits in March 2022, resulting in the death of a Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) staff member.

Their arrest is a significant step in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks exploiting religious activities

The latest arrests underscore ongoing efforts by security agencies to address the region’s persistent insecurity, which has seen thousands killed or kidnapped in recent years.

The DSS has not issued an official statement, but a top official from the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, who declined to be named, confirmed the arrests, noting that the suspects were not registered pilgrims from Kaduna but likely from neighboring states like Zamfara. “We are cooperating fully with security agencies to ensure such incidents do not recur,” the official said.