Three Nigerian pilgrims wrongfully detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking have regained their freedom following the intervention of the Federal Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed their release on Wednesday, disclosing that they will soon return home.
The freed pilgrims are Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq, who had spent four weeks in detention in Jeddah after narcotics were allegedly linked to their names.
How Innocent Pilgrims Were Implicated
Babafemi explained that investigations uncovered a syndicate led by 55-year-old Mohammed Abubakar (alias Bello Karama), which in collusion with staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), planted drugs in extra bags tagged in the pilgrims’ names without their knowledge.
The scheme unfolded on August 6, 2025, when Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 departed Kano for Jeddah via Addis Ababa. Although each of the pilgrims checked in only one personal bag, handlers fraudulently added six extra bags, three of which contained narcotics.
Karama reportedly travelled separately on Egypt Air, while accomplices smuggled the drug-laden luggage aboard Ethiopian Airlines. Several suspects, including Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Olalekan, Celestina Yayock, and Jazuli Kabir, have confessed, with evidence of payments traced to them.
High-Level Diplomacy Secured Their Freedom
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), personally engaged with officials of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), presenting evidence from Nigeria’s investigation that cleared the pilgrims.
“Armed with the outcome of our probe and charges filed against the syndicate, we engaged our Saudi counterparts at multiple levels, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly abroad,” Babafemi said.
One of the pilgrims was released on September 14, with the remaining two freed the next day.
Marwa praised Saudi authorities for honouring the MoU on counter-narcotics cooperation between both countries, while commending President Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, and the National Security Adviser for their decisive support.
Airport Security Under Scrutiny
The case has reignited concerns about baggage handling and security lapses at Nigeria’s airports. Authorities have pledged to tighten controls at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) to prevent innocent passengers from being ensnared by drug cartels in the future.
