Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah for four weeks over alleged drug trafficking. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, with details provided by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
The released pilgrims are Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.
Their release followed sustained diplomatic engagement led by the NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) and supported by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Aviation, and the National Security Adviser.
Investigations found that a drug syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) tagged drug-laden luggage with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims who traveled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 on August 6, 2025.
The syndicate led by Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, and accomplices including airline officials, planted illicit drug-filled bags without the knowledge of the victims.
Following petitions from detainees’ families, NDLEA’s probe led to the arrest and charging of the syndicate members in Nigeria.
The NDLEA Chairman engaged Saudi counterparts using the evidence that confirmed the innocence of the pilgrims, resulting in their release on September 14 and 15, 2025.
This successful intervention highlights Nigeria’s commitment, under President Tinubu’s directive, to protect its citizens abroad and ensure justice.
The NDLEA credited their Saudi counterparts for honoring the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on narcotics control partnership.
