Saudi Arabia Releases Nigerians Held Over Alleged Drug Trafficking

Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims detained in Jeddah over alleged drug trafficking, after weeks of diplomatic and security interventions.

According to a report by VANGUARD, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, confirmed their release during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.

Represented by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the pilgrims Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Bahijja Abdullahi, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq regained their freedom after spending four weeks in custody.

He explained that the release followed sustained engagements with the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), fully supported by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), 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.

Marwa disclosed that NDLEA investigations uncovered a drug syndicate at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), which had tagged illicit drug-laden bags with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims who traveled via 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, also known as Bello Karama, alongside three accomplices, airline officials Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,” Marwa stated.

He said charges had already been filed against the four suspects in Nigeria, while evidence proving the pilgrims’ innocence was shared with Saudi authorities.

“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 at multiple levels, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,” Marwa explained.

He added that one pilgrim was freed on September 14, while the other two regained their freedom on September 15.

Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation 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 said.

He also praised the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, and the National Security Adviser for their roles in securing the pilgrims’ release.

“This outcome demonstrates that no Nigerian will be unjustly punished for crimes they did not commit anywhere in the world,” the NDLEA boss affirmed.