The Federal Government has announced that three Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia have been released following months of diplomatic engagement. Those freed are Mr. Abdulhamid Sadie, Mrs. Maryam Hussein Abdullahi, and Mrs. Bahijah Aminu Abdullahi.
The trio were arrested in August 2025 at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, after Saudi officials discovered prohibited substances in luggage that had been secretly tagged to their tickets by criminal networks operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). The passengers were reportedly unaware of the illicit items.
Once informed, Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Muazam I. J. Nayaya, immediately engaged Saudi authorities and alerted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. He also sought assistance from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to aid the investigation. The Consulate maintained close communication with Saudi officials, visited the detainees, and arranged legal representation throughout the process.
