Saudi Authorities Free 3 Nigerian Pilgrims Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking

…Marwa commends Saudi counterpart, attributes success of NDLEA interventions to President Tinubu’s commitment, HAGF, Foreign Affairs, Aviation Ministers, NSA’s support

Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah last month following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking. The three Nigerians freed after four weeks in custody are: Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.

Their release followed weeks of relentless engagements by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia. This was achieved with the full support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the assistance of 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; as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

A syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the unsuspecting Nigerians, who travelled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 that departed Kano on 6th August 2025 to Jeddah for the lesser hajj. They were later arrested in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.

Following petitions to the NDLEA Chairman by the victims’ families over the detention of their relatives in Saudi Arabia, an investigation was launched to unravel the circumstances. The probe led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, along with three other members of the syndicate, including airline officials linked to the shipment of the illicit substances. Charges have since been filed against Abubakar and his accomplices: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir.

Armed with the outcome of the NDLEA investigation, charges filed against the syndicate members, and other evidence proving the innocence of the three pilgrims, Marwa engaged his Saudi counterpart at multiple levels and locations, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land.

Following these engagements, one of the three Nigerians was released from custody on Sunday, 14th September, while the remaining two regained their freedom on Monday, 15th September 2025.

Expressing joy over the development, Marwa commended his counterpart at the Saudi GDNC for upholding the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding between NDLEA and GDNC on collaboration and partnership.

“The biggest support for 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 played out in this case—that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about anywhere in the world.

We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who were with us all the way on this matter.”

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Wednesday, 17th September 2025