Four Arrested in Kebbi Hajj Seat Scam Involving Millions

The Kebbi State Police Command arrested four suspects in connection with a Hajj seat scam that involved millions of naira. The prime suspect, Aminu Zauro, was apprehended alongside Tabiu Abubakar, Usman Attahiru, and Mustapha Sani Zauro.

The suspects were identified as Bello Jo Atiku and Umar Gimba Usman. The arrests followed a complaint from the Kebbi State Pilgrim Welfare Agency, where intending pilgrims discovered their names were missing from the agency's official records.

Investigations revealed that Aminu Zauro had no legitimate access to Hajj slots and fraudulently collected a total of 8,600,000 naira from victims, promising them two seats for the 2026 Hajj exercise. The suspects collected an initial deposit of 690,000 naira from victims under false pretenses and attempted to conceal their fraud by procuring unauthorized Hajj materials, including bags, hijabs, wrappers, and fake medical record cards.

The police recovered fake materials and an Android phone during the operation. The Kebbi State Police Command cautioned intending pilgrims to avoid dealing with unauthorized individuals for Hajj arrangements.