By Nkechi Eze
Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who had been in detention in Jeddah for four weeks after being arrested over alleged drug trafficking. The development followed weeks of diplomatic and operational interventions spearheaded by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), with the full backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the assistance of key government officials.
In an official statement, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, identified the released pilgrims as Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq. The trio were freed after painstaking engagements between the NDLEA leadership and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia, which confirmed their innocence.
The pilgrims had been arrested in Saudi Arabia on August 6, 2025, after arriving aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano for lesser hajj. Investigations later revealed that a criminal syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) had tagged their names on luggage containing illicit drugs. The victims, unsuspecting of the plot, were wrongfully implicated in the smuggling attempt and subsequently detained by Saudi authorities.
Following appeals from their families, the NDLEA launched a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of the mastermind of the plot, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, popularly known as Bello Karama, along with three accomplices. The other arrested suspects were identified as Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir, all of whom allegedly conspired with airline officials to smuggle the drugs. The agency has since filed charges against the syndicate members in Nigerian courts.
Armed with the findings of the investigation and evidence proving the innocence of the pilgrims, Marwa personally engaged his Saudi counterpart at multiple levels and locations, even travelling to Saudi Arabia to ensure the case was resolved. These efforts, he said, were in line with President Tinubu’s policy that no Nigerian should suffer injustice abroad.
One of the detained pilgrims was released on Sunday, September 14, while the remaining two regained their freedom the following day, September 15.
Reacting to the development, Brig Gen Marwa commended the Saudi authorities for honouring the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the NDLEA and the GDNC on collaboration and partnership. He also lauded the unflinching support provided by President Tinubu and key government officials, including 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, Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“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,” Marwa said. “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; 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.”
