Informants, wives of bandits arrested upon arrival from Saudi Arabia
A group of suspected terrorists accompanied by their spouses and alleged informants, have been arrested by security forces upon their return from the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The arrests took place at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto, a common travel route for pilgrims from Zamfara State.
READ ALSO: Troops destroy Bello Turji’s hideouts, rescue 23 kidnap victims in Zamfara
According to sources, the arrested individuals are believed to be from various areas within Zamfara State, including Tsafe, Zurmi, Bungudu, and Shinkafi.
While the security agencies in Zamfara State have not officially acknowledged the arrests, a reputable member of the Hajj committee confirmed the operation. The committee member stated that there had been official communication between the security agencies involved and the committee members.
Upon the arrival of the first flight, the pilgrims were asked to remain on the plane temporarily.
They were later escorted to a hall in the airport, where they encountered security agents dressed in both uniform and plain clothing. The airport contact person instructed the committee members to withdraw and allow the security personnel to carry out their work.
The pilgrims were then asked to be seated on plastic chairs for further screening by the security agents. Meanwhile, the suspects were instructed to stay in the hall while those who were cleared were allowed to proceed with their journey.
According to a staff member from the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, the arrested individuals were under surveillance by security agents throughout their travel from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia. Although the staff member confirmed the arrests, they were unable to provide further details due to their absence at the time.
Another source, an anonymous pilgrim, witnessed some of the arrests. After the final flight landed, a significant number of security agents approached the pilgrims, requesting to see their travel documents.
The agents then selected several individuals from the group and escorted them to a vehicle. The remaining pilgrims were instructed to continue with their journey, but those detained were not permitted to take their handbags.
Furthermore, a community leader in the Shinkafi area disclosed that concerns were raised by influential figures in the local government when they heard rumors about the notorious banditry kingpin, Bello Turji, potentially going for Hajj.
The group addressed their concerns to both the police and the brigade commander in Gusau, who assured them that they would handle the situation accordingly. The community leader viewed the arrests as a positive development, indicating that the security agents are serious about combating the situation.
It was later discovered that Turji did not go for Hajj
