Saudi authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah for alleged drug trafficking, following weeks of diplomatic and security interventions.
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja. He was represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The pilgrims — Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Bahijja Abdullahi, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq — were freed after spending four weeks in custody. Their release, Marwa said, was made possible through sustained engagement with the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), fully backed by President Bola Tinubu.
Marwa credited the successful outcome to joint efforts involving the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Investigations by the NDLEA revealed that a drug syndicate at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, had planted illicit drug-laden bags in the names of unsuspecting pilgrims traveling via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on August 6, 2025.
The probe led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, alongside three airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir. Charges have since been filed against them in Nigeria.
“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 said.
One of the pilgrims was released on September 14, while the other two regained freedom on September 15.
The NDLEA chairman commended the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two agencies, stressing that the development affirms Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
“This outcome demonstrates that no Nigerian will be unjustly punished for crimes they did not commit anywhere in the world,” Marwa added.