1 month ago
19
The Saudi Arabian authorities person released 3 Nigerian pilgrims earlier detained successful Jeddah implicit alleged cause trafficking, pursuing weeks of diplomatic and information engagements.
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa disclosed this during a property briefing connected Wednesday successful Abuja.
The NDLEA Chairman was represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
He said that the pilgrims, identified arsenic Mrs Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs Bahijja Abdullahi and Mr Abdulhamid Saddieq, were freed aft spending 4 weeks successful custody.
He besides said that their merchandise came aft his sustained interventions and engagement with the enactment of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) successful Saudi Arabia.
He explained that the efforts were afloat supported by President Bola Tinubu, alongside the contributions of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
This, helium said, included efforts from 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.
He added that investigations by the NDLEA revealed that a cause syndicate operating astatine the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, had tagged illicit drug-laden bags with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims.
This, helium said, refers to radical who traveled via Ethiopian Airlines formation ET940 from Kano to Jeddah connected August 6, 2025, for the lesser hajj.
“Following petitions from the families of the detainees, the NDLEA launched a probe which led to the apprehension of the suspected mastermind, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar.
“Abubakar who is besides known arsenic Bello Karama was arrested with 3 accomplices. The accomplices see hose officials identified arsenic Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,”he said.
Marwa, however, said that charges had since been filed against the 4 suspects successful Nigeria.
“Armed with the result of our investigation, charges filed against the syndicate members, and different grounds to found the innocence of the pilgrims, we engaged Saudi authorities.
“This was astatine aggregate levels, including successful Saudi Arabia, successful enactment with President Tinubu’s directive that nary Nigerian should endure unjustly successful a overseas land,”he said.
The NDLEA brag said that pursuing the engagements, 1 of the pilgrims was released connected Sept. 14, portion the remaining 2 regained state connected Sept. 15.
Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) connected practice and concern betwixt the 2 agencies.
“The biggest enactment for our efforts came from President Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that Nigerians person their deserved respect and just attraction crossed the world,” helium said.
Marwa besides lauded the assistance of the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, arsenic good arsenic the National Security Adviser.
“This result demonstrates that nary Nigerian volition beryllium unjustly punished for crimes they did not perpetrate anyplace successful the world,” the NDLEA brag added.
The station Alleged cause trafficking: Saudi Arabia frees 3 Nigerian pilgrims appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
English (US) ·