ALLEGED DRUG TRAFICKING: SAUDI ARABIA FREES THREE NIGERIAN PILGRIMS AFTER NDLEA, FG INTERVENTIONS
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Saudi Arabian authorities have freed three Nigerian pilgrims earlier detained in Jeddah over alleged drug trafficking, following weeks of diplomatic and security interventions.
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, disclosed this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
Represented by the NDLEA 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 four weeks in custody.
He explained that their release followed sustained engagements with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia, with full backing from 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.
According to him, NDLEA’s investigation revealed that “a drug syndicate operating at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, had tagged illicit drug-laden bags with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims,” who traveled on 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.
“Abubakar who is also known as Bello Karama was arrested with three accomplices. The accomplices include airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,” he said.
Marwa noted that charges had since been filed against the four suspects 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.
“This was at multiple levels, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,” he said.
He added that one of the pilgrims was released on Sept. 14, while the other two regained freedom on Sept. 15.
Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and partnership between both 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.
The NDLEA boss also appreciated the support of the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, and the National Security Adviser.
“This outcome demonstrates that no Nigerian will be unjustly punished for crimes they did not commit anywhere in the world,” the NDLEA boss added.
