Fake Hajj Slots: Kebbi Police Arrest Four Over Alleged N8.6m Fraud

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested four suspects over an alleged Hajj seat fraud involving more than N8.6 million.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

He identified the principal suspect as Aminu Hassan Zauro, who was arrested alongside Tabiu Abubakar, Usman Attahiru, and Mustapha Sani Zauro.

According to the police, four other suspects — Bello Jos, Atiku Store, Umar Gimba, and Usman Bunza — are currently at large.

Abubakar said the arrests followed a complaint by the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency after it discovered that the names of some intending pilgrims were missing from its official records.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the prime suspect allegedly collected N8.6 million from a victim under the false promise of securing two Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage, despite having no authorised access to Hajj allocations.

The suspect was also accused of obtaining an additional N690,000 deposit from another victim under similar pretences.

To allegedly cover up the fraud, the suspect reportedly procured and distributed unauthorised Hajj materials, including branded bags, hijabs, wrappers, and fake medical cards.

The police said all the items were recovered, along with a Tecno Android phone believed to have been used in the operation.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bello Sani, advised intending pilgrims to transact only with the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency and its accredited officials.

He warned that fraudulent Hajj schemes had become a recurring problem and assured that all those involved in the alleged scam would be prosecuted.