Three Nigerians arrested and prosecuted in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking have been released following diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian government.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the release in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
The detainees—Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah while on pilgrimage.
They were accused of being in possession of substances suspected to be cocaine and were held for 10 months.
According to the ministry, their arrest was linked to two other Nigerian nationals found in possession of 80 capsules of cocaine weighing 900.28 grams and 70 capsules weighing 789.5 grams.
The three women were detained on suspicion of complicity in the trafficking of the banned substances.
“Their release followed extensive diplomatic and legal engagements, which led to their acquittal and subsequent handover to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Jeddah,” the statement read.
The women were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Jeddah.
They are currently completing immigration formalities and will soon return to Nigeria to reunite with their families.
The ministry acknowledged the widespread attention the case attracted in both Saudi Arabia and Nigeria and praised the efforts that led to the successful resolution of the matter.
