The Saudi Arabian authorities have freed three Nigerian pilgrims who were wrongly held in Jeddah over allegations of drug trafficking, following weeks of high-level diplomatic intervention.
The Director of Media and Advocacy at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, confirmed their release on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja.
According to him, the pilgrims — Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq — were detained after arriving in Jeddah on August 6 aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano.
“The three Nigerians were innocent victims of a criminal syndicate that planted drugs in bags checked in under their names at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,” Babafemi explained.
He noted that NDLEA’s probe into the matter led to the arrest of the syndicate’s leader, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, along with three accomplices, including airline staff. Charges have already been filed against them.
Babafemi credited the pilgrims’ release to the intervention of NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), who engaged with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control.
“This breakthrough was achieved through the personal commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the support of key officials including the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,” he stated.
One of the pilgrims was released on Sunday, while the other two regained freedom the following day.
Marwa, reacting to the development, praised Saudi authorities for honoring the bilateral agreement between both countries’ drug law enforcement agencies.
“No Nigerian should be made to suffer unjustly in a foreign land for crimes they know nothing about,” Marwa said. “The release of these innocent citizens shows the strength of international cooperation when backed with evidence.”
Investigations revealed that six extra bags were checked in under the pilgrims’ names, three of which contained illicit drugs. In one instance, Mrs. Abdullahi, who checked in only a 9kg bag, did not receive it until days later, just before she was detained.
Babafemi stressed that NDLEA would continue to dismantle criminal syndicates that exploit unsuspecting travelers.
“The greatest lesson from this incident is that Nigerians can be assured that their government will stand by them, wherever they are, to ensure fairness and justice,” he added.
