Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah for four weeks following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking. Those freed include Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.
Their release came after weeks of engagement by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control in Saudi Arabia. The intervention was supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 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), and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Investigations revealed that a syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the three unsuspecting Nigerians, who had travelled on Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on August 6, 2025, for lesser hajj. The pilgrims were later arrested in Saudi Arabia over the drugs. Following complaints from their families, the NDLEA launched a probe that led to the arrest of a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, along with three others linked to the syndicate, including airline officials. Those charged alongside Abubakar are Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir.
With the findings, charges were filed against the syndicate members, and evidence proving the innocence of the three Nigerians was presented to Saudi authorities. Marwa held multiple engagements with his Saudi counterpart, both locally and in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly abroad. One of the pilgrims was released on Sunday, September 14, and the remaining two on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Reacting to the development, Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for upholding the Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies on collaboration. He said, “The biggest support of our effort on this case came from President Tinubu who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian gets their deserved respect and fair treatment wherever they are across the world. And that is what has come to play in this case, that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about anywhere in the world. We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who were with us all the way on the matter.”
