Alleged Drug Trafficking: Saudi Arabia Finally Releases 3 Detained Nigerian Pilgrims
Three Nigerian pilgrims; Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq, who were arrested and taken into custody in Jeddah last month, have regained their freedom.
Recall that they were arrested and detained following allegations of drug trafficking.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Director of Media and Advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Femi Babafemi made this disclosure during the press conference he presided over at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Babafemi noted that Mrs Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu and Mr Abdulhamid Saddieq spent four weeks behind bars before regaining their freedom.
‘Their release followed weeks of sustained engagements by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia.
This was made possible 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, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN); as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’ he said.
Mr Babafemi clarified that a syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the three unsuspecting Nigerians, who travelled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940, which departed Kano on August 6, 2025, to Jeddah for the lesser hajj. They were subsequently arrested in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.
Following complaints made by families of the affected pilgrims, Marwa, he added, had ordered an investigation into the matter.
‘The probe led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, who is popularly called Bello Karama, and three other members of the syndicate, including airline officials behind the shipment of the illicit substances for which the three innocent pilgrims were detained in Jeddah.
Charges have since been filed against Abubakar and other members of the syndicate: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir’ he added.
Retired General Marwa had consequently engaged with 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 country while one of the pilgrims was released from custody on Sunday, the remaining two regained their freedom on Monday.
The NDLEA noted that Marwa expressed delight over the outcome and commended his Saudi counterpart at the GDNC for upholding the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies on collaboration and partnership.
‘The greatest support for our efforts in this case came from President Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian receives due respect and fair treatment wherever they are in the world. That commitment came to bear in this case, ensuring that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about.
We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN); as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who supported us throughout the matter’ Mr Babafemi added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
