ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING: SAUDI ARABIA FREES THREE NIGERIAN PILGRIMS
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The authorities of Saudi Arabia have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were previously detained in Jeddah on accusations of drug trafficking, following weeks of diplomatic and security discussions.
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig. -Gen. Buba Marwa, revealed this information during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NDLEA Chairman was represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
He stated that the pilgrims, identified as Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Bahijja Abdullahi, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq, were liberated after spending four weeks in detention.
He also noted that their release was facilitated through his continued interventions and negotiations with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia.
He elaborated that these efforts received comprehensive support from President Bola Tinubu, along with contributions from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
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This, he added, included the efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
He pointed out that investigations conducted by the NDLEA uncovered a drug syndicate operating at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano, which had labeled bags containing illicit drugs with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims.
This scenario involved individuals who traveled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on August 6, 2025, for the lesser hajj.
“Following petitions from the families of the detainees, the NDLEA launched a probe which led to the arrest of the suspected mastermind, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar.
“Abubakar who is also known as Bello Karama was arrested with three accomplices. The accomplices include airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,” he stated.
Marwa, however, noted that legal charges had since been lodged against the four suspects in Nigeria.
“Armed with the outcome of our investigation, charges filed against the syndicate members, and other evidence to establish the innocence of the pilgrims, we engaged Saudi authorities.
“This was at multiple levels, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,” he remarked.
The NDLEA chairman indicated that as a result of these engagements, one of the pilgrims was released on September 14, while the other two regained their freedom on September 15.
Marwa expressed gratitude to the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding cooperation and partnership between the two agencies.
“The biggest support for our efforts came from President Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that Nigerians receive their deserved respect and fair treatment across the world,” he stated.
Marwa also commended the assistance provided by the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, as well as the National Security Adviser.
“This outcome demonstrates that no Nigerian will be unjustly punished for crimes they did not commit anywhere in the world,” the NDLEA chairman concluded.
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