Saudi Arabia Frees Three Nigerian Pilgrims Wrongly Detained for Drug Trafficking
Saudi authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were wrongfully detained in Jeddah for alleged drug trafficking, following weeks of high-level diplomatic and investigative interventions led by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The three freed Nigerians – Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq – had been in custody for four weeks after being arrested upon arrival in Jeddah on 6th August 2025, where they had travelled for the lesser hajj on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano.
Their ordeal stemmed from the activities of a criminal syndicate operating out of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), which had fraudulently tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the unsuspecting pilgrims.
The case drew immediate attention after the victims’ families petitioned the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), who ordered a thorough investigation.
The probe led to the arrest of a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, and three accomplices, including airline officials: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir. Charges have since been filed against them in Nigeria.
Armed with the evidence from NDLEA’s investigation, Marwa engaged his Saudi counterpart at the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in multiple meetings, both in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
These engagements, he stressed, were in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy directive to ensure no Nigerian suffers unjustly abroad.
One of the detained pilgrims was released on Sunday, 14th September, with the remaining two freed on Monday, 15th September 2025.
Expressing his relief over the outcome, Marwa commended the Saudi authorities for respecting the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between NDLEA and GDNC.
“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 stated.
“That is what has come to play in this case – that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about. We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who supported us all the way,” he added.
