By: IDNN Security & Crime Desk
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) scored a major national security win Monday with the arrest of a notorious kidnapping kingpin, Sani Galadi, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto during Hajj departure screening.
The suspect, whose syndicate is linked to multiple high-profile abductions in the North-West, was apprehended just before boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Caught at the Last Gate: A Precision Sting
Sources within the DSS confirmed that Galadi had successfully passed earlier checks and was at the final terminal gate when operatives, acting on precise intelligence, surrounded and detained him.
“He was arrested at the Hajj terminal while undergoing final screening,” one intelligence official told IDNN. “He is now under interrogation and will face charges soon.”
Zamfara Connection Confirmed
Contrary to early speculation linking Galadi to Sokoto pilgrims, officials of the Sokoto Pilgrims Welfare Board clarified that he was part of the Zamfara State contingent.
Faruk Umar, a senior agency officer, stated:
“Only Zamfara pilgrims were scheduled to fly today. Sokoto’s batch departs tomorrow. So, it’s clear the suspect is from Zamfara.”
This revelation has reignited fears about criminal infiltration into official pilgrimage groups — a loophole security agencies have long flagged.
Background: Galadi’s Reign of Terror
Galadi has reportedly been on the DSS watchlist for months, with credible links to mass kidnappings in Zamfara and parts of Katsina State. His arrest marks one of the highest-profile captures in 2025 so far.
Authorities have declined to confirm whether additional suspects were arrested with him but emphasized that “interrogation is ongoing and court charges will follow.”
National Implication: Hajj and Homeland Security Collide
This incident highlights the growing tension between Nigeria’s religious mobility and national security. Pilgrimages — especially Hajj — remain one of the most sensitive mass-movement events in the country.
Security analysts say this arrest underscores the DSS’s increasing focus on preemptive operations and the need for coordinated surveillance across all outbound pilgrimage terminals.