Saudi authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were wrongfully detained in Jeddah for alleged drug trafficking.
The pilgrims — Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq — regained their freedom after four weeks in custody following sustained interventions by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian government.
Their ordeal began after a drug syndicate at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport tagged illicit substances with their names before they boarded Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on August 6 for lesser hajj. The trio was subsequently arrested by Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC).
Following petitions from the victims’ families, NDLEA launched an investigation that led to the arrest of 55-year-old kingpin Mohammed Abubakar, alias Bello Karama, alongside Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir — including complicit airline officials. Charges have already been filed against them.
Armed with the investigation’s findings, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) engaged Saudi authorities to secure the pilgrims’ release. He credited the success to President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly abroad, with strong backing from Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that one of the detainees was released on Sunday, followed by the other two on Monday.
Marwa expressed gratitude to Saudi authorities for honoring the bilateral agreement on narcotics control, stressing that Nigeria would continue to protect its citizens from wrongful persecution abroad.
