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The Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah last month following their arrest on allegations of drug trafficking.
The Director of Media and Advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing held at the agency’s headquarters.
Babafemi said the three Nigerians freed after four weeks in custody are Mrs Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu and Mr Abdulhamid Saddieq.
“Their release followed weeks of sustained engagements by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia.
“This was made possible with the full support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the assistance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN); as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,” Babafemi stated.
He explained that a syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the three unsuspecting Nigerians, who travelled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940, which departed Kano on 6 August 2025 to Jeddah for the lesser hajj. The pilgrims were subsequently arrested in Saudi Arabia over alleged drug trafficking.
Following complaints by the families of the detainees, Marwa ordered an investigation into the matter.
“The probe led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, and three other members of the syndicate, including airline officials behind the shipment of the illicit substances for which the three innocent pilgrims were detained in Jeddah.
“Charges have since been filed against Abubakar and other members of the syndicate: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,” the NDLEA said.
Armed with the findings of the NDLEA investigation, charges filed against the syndicate, and other evidence proving the pilgrims’ innocence, Marwa engaged with his Saudi counterpart at multiple levels and locations, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign country.
According to the NDLEA, one of the pilgrims was released from custody on Sunday and the remaining two on Monday.
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Babafemi said Marwa expressed delight over the outcome and commended his Saudi counterpart at the GDNC for upholding the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies on collaboration and partnership.
“The greatest support for our efforts in this case came from President Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian receives due respect and fair treatment wherever they are in the world. That commitment came to bear in this case, ensuring that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about.
“We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN); as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who supported us throughout the matter,” Babafemi added.
This came barely three weeks after the NDLEA operatives arrested a 55-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Mohammed Abubakar, alias Bello Karama, alongside five members of his syndicate at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Their arrest followed the wrongful detention of the three Nigerian pilgrims in Jeddah, after drug consignments were secretly tagged to their names.
The matter came to light when the families of the detainees petitioned Marwa.
Investigations showed that six extra bags, which did not belong to the pilgrims, were checked in under their names.
Three of the bags were later found to contain illicit drugs.
According to Babafemi, one of the victims, Abdullahi, had only checked in a 9kg bag, which failed to arrive with her in Jeddah.
The luggage was delivered on August 16, a day before her scheduled return, when she was detained. The same scheme was used against the two other pilgrims.
Pascal Arogorn Ibe
