Three Nigerian pilgrims have been released in Saudi Arabia after being wrongly accused of drug trafficking. They were held in Jeddah for about four weeks before their release.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), shared the news during a press briefing in Abuja. The freed pilgrims are Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.
Their release came after continuous efforts by NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), who worked closely with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia. The intervention was supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney General Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Aviation Minister Mr. Festus Keyamo, and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Investigations revealed that a drug syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport had secretly tagged bags containing illegal substances with the pilgrims’ names. The three had traveled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah for the lesser hajj on August 6, 2025, and were arrested upon arrival.
After complaints from their families, the NDLEA conducted a thorough investigation. This led to the arrest of the suspected drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar (also known as Bello Karama), along with three others involved, including airline officials. Charges have now been filed against Abubakar and his associates: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir.
Using the evidence from the investigation, Marwa engaged Saudi authorities at multiple levels to ensure the innocent pilgrims were released, following President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should be wrongly punished abroad. One pilgrim was freed on Sunday and the other two on Monday.
Babafemi praised the cooperation of the Saudi authorities and highlighted the support from President Tinubu and other Nigerian officials. He emphasized that the case shows the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
The incident occurred shortly after the NDLEA arrested the 55-year-old syndicate leader and his accomplices at Kano Airport. Investigations confirmed that extra luggage containing drugs was checked in under the pilgrims’ names without their knowledge.
