Three Nigerian pilgrims earlier detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over alleged drug trafficking have regained their freedom after four weeks in custody.
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja. He was represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
Marwa named the released pilgrims as Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs. Bahijja Abdullahi, and Abdulhamid Saddieq. He explained that their release followed weeks of diplomatic and security engagements with the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC).
He said the intervention enjoyed the backing of President Bola Tinubu, with critical support from 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 Marwa, NDLEA investigations revealed that a drug syndicate at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano had tagged drug-laden bags with the names of unsuspecting pilgrims who departed via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 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, also known as Bello Karama. He was arrested alongside three accomplices—airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,” Marwa said.
He added that charges had already been filed against the suspects in Nigeria.
“Armed with the outcome of our investigation, the charges filed against the syndicate, and other evidence proving the innocence of the pilgrims, we engaged Saudi authorities at multiple levels, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,” Marwa stated.
He confirmed that one of the pilgrims was released on September 14, while the remaining two regained freedom on September 15.
Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for honoring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and partnership between both agencies.
