Saudi Arabia Frees Three Nigerian Pilgrims Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking

S Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who had been detained in Jeddah for four weeks over alleged drug trafficking.

The freed pilgrims are Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq, who were arrested upon arrival in Jeddah last month after illicit drugs were found tagged to their luggage.

NDLEA Investigation Exposes Syndicate

Investigations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) revealed that a drug syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, was behind the setup. The syndicate allegedly tagged bags containing illicit substances with the names of the unsuspecting pilgrims, who had traveled aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 on August 6, 2025, for lesser hajj.

The probe, ordered after complaints from the victims’ families, led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin Mohammed Ali Abubakar, alias Bello Karama, along with three accomplices: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir. NDLEA has since filed charges against them.

Diplomatic Engagements Secure Release

Armed with the findings, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) engaged Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), presenting evidence of the pilgrims’ innocence. The high-level engagements, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, culminated in the release of one pilgrim on September 14 and the other two on September 15, 2025.

Marwa commended his Saudi counterpart for upholding the Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration between NDLEA and GDNC. He also credited the success to President Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, as well as the support of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“No Nigerian Should Suffer Unjustly”

Speaking on the development, Marwa 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.”

The NDLEA reiterated its resolve to protect innocent Nigerians from falling victim to drug cartels and vowed to ensure that all members of the syndicate face justice.