Three Nigerians wrongly detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on drug trafficking allegations have been freed after four weeks, following an investigation by the NDLEA that exposed a syndicate operating at Kano Airport.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the pilgrims — Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq — were innocent victims of baggage manipulation.
A Kano-based kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar (aka Bello Karama), and airline staff were arrested after NDLEA found six extra bags containing drugs tagged to the pilgrims’ names.
NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa engaged Saudi authorities with evidence, securing the pilgrims’ release with support from President Bola Tinubu, the AGF, Foreign Affairs Ministry, and NSA Nuhu Ribadu.
“The greatest support came from President Tinubu, committed to ensuring no Nigerian suffers unjustly abroad,” Babafemi said.
Diplomatic analysts hailed the release as a triumph of proactive foreign intervention and a signal Nigeria will fight for its citizens abroad.
Byline: IDNN Security & Foreign Desk
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