The Saudi Government hasreleased three Nigerian pilgrims detained in Jeddah over alleged drug trafficking, following weeks of diplomatic and security engagements.
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa disclosed this to the press on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NDLEA Chairman, who was represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the pilgrims, identified as Mrs Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs Bahijja Abdullahi and Mr Abdulhamid Saddieq, were freed after spending four weeks in custody.
According to him, their release came after his sustained interventions and engagement with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia.
He said, “Following petitions from the families of the detainees, the NDLEA launched a probe which led to the arrest of the suspected mastermind, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar.
“Abubakar who is also known as Bello Karama was arrested with three accomplices. The accomplices include airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir.”
Marwa, however, said that charges had since been filed against the four suspects in Nigeria.
“Armed with the outcome of our investigation, charges filed against the syndicate members, and other evidence to establish the innocence of the pilgrims, we engaged Saudi authorities.
“This was at multiple levels, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,”he said.
The NDLEA boss said that following the engagements, one of the pilgrims was released on Sept. 14, while the remaining two regained freedom on Sept. 15
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