Alleged drug trafficking: Saudi Arabia frees 3 Nigerian pilgrims

By Kingsley Omonobi

Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Drug Authorities person released 3 Nigerian pilgrims, who were detained successful Jeddah since past month, pursuing their apprehension implicit alleged cause trafficking, which was masterminded by a cause syndicate operating astatine the Kano airport.

The 3 Nigerians who were freed from detention aft 4 weeks successful custody see Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Aminu and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.

Spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this yesterday, said: “Their state came pursuing weeks of relentless engagements by the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (retd) with the enactment of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, GDNC, successful Saudi Arabia with the afloat enactment of President Bola Tinubu.”

He said NDLEA besides received the assistance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, arsenic good arsenic the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu successful the matter.

“A syndicate operating astatine the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the 3 unsuspecting Nigerians who travelled connected an Ethiopian Airline formation ET940 which departed Kano connected August 6, 2025, to Jeddah connected lesser hajj.

“They were aboriginal arrested successful Saudi for alleged cause trafficking. Following complaints to the NDLEA brag by families of the 3 victims implicit the detention of their household members successful Saudi Arabia aft the completion of their lesser hajj connected an allegation of trafficking successful illicit substances, an probe was launched to unravel what happened.

“The probe led to the apprehension of 55-year-old cause kingpin Mohammed Abubakar alias Bello Karama and 3 different members of the syndicate including the hose officials down the shipment of the illicit substances for which the 3 guiltless pilgrims were arrested and detained successful Jeddah.

“Charges person since been filed against Mohammed Abubakar and different members of the syndicate, Celestina Yayock; Abdulbasit Sagagi and Jazuli Kabir.

“Armed with the result of NDLEA probe and charges filed against members of the syndicate arsenic good arsenic different evidences to beryllium the innocence of the 3 Nigerian pilgrims, Marwa engaged with his Saudi counterpart astatine aggregate levels and antithetic locations including Saudi Arabia successful compliance with President Tinubu’s docket that nary Nigerian suffers unjustly successful a overseas land.

“Following the bid of engagements 1 of the 3 Nigerians was released from custody connected September 14, and the remaining 2 September 15, 2025.”

The station Alleged cause trafficking: Saudi Arabia frees 3 Nigerian pilgrims appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.