Saudi Arabia has freed three Nigerian pilgrims held for weeks over alleged drug trafficking after NDLEA intervention.
Officials say a syndicate fraudulently tagged their names on illicit luggage at Kano airport.
Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who had been detained in Jeddah for about four weeks over allegations of drug trafficking.
The spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, announced at a press briefing that the freed individuals are Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.
According to Babafemi, their release followed weeks of diplomatic efforts led by NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), who worked closely with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control. The intervention had the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was supported by top government officials, including Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Babafemi explained that a drug syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano had fraudulently tagged the names of the three unsuspecting pilgrims on luggage containing illicit substances. The pilgrims had travelled on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on August 6, 2025, for the lesser hajj.
Following complaints from their families, the NDLEA launched an investigation which led to the arrest of a 55-year-old kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar (also known as Bello Karama), and three others, including airline staff. Charges have since been filed against the suspects, identified as Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir.
Armed with the investigation’s findings and evidence of the pilgrims’ innocence, Marwa held several meetings with Saudi authorities to secure their release. One pilgrim was freed on September 14, while the remaining two were released on September 15, 2025.
Marwa expressed appreciation to Saudi officials for honoring the cooperation agreement between the NDLEA and their Saudi counterparts, adding that President Tinubu’s support played a crucial role in the release. He emphasized that Nigeria is committed to protecting its citizens abroad and ensuring they are not punished for crimes they did not commit.
