Three Nigerians who had been detained in Saudi Arabia since August 2025 have been released after authorities determined they were not involved in an attempted smuggling of prohibited substances through Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport.
The development was disclosed in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Wednesday.
The statement reads, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah, has secured the release and full lifting of the travel ban on three Nigerian nationals; Abdulhamid Sadieq, Maryam Hussein Abdullahi, and Bahijah Aminu Abdullahi, who were arrested in August 2025 at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
According to the statement, the three Nigerians were arrested after prohibited substances were discovered in luggage that criminal syndicates had fraudulently linked to their air tickets at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport without their knowledge.
The Consul General of Nigeria in Jeddah, Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, was said to have initiated immediate diplomatic contact with Saudi internal security desks on learning of the arrest.
The statement further reads, “Amb. Muazam Nayaya, the Consul General of Nigeria in Jeddah, immediately engaged Saudi authorities and reported the matter to headquarters in Abuja, while also requesting the intervention of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to support investigations.”
The mission also “maintained continuous engagement with the host authorities, ensured regular prison visits, and arranged legal representation for the detainees.”
After a series of investigations, Saudi officials cleared the three Nigerians of wrongdoing and released them on September 14 and 15, 2025.
A temporary travel restriction placed on them during the security review has now been removed.
The statement further stated that Maryam Abdullahi and Bahijah Abdullahi returned to Nigeria on November 5, 2025.
The ministry confirmed that the travel ban on Sadieq was lifted on December 2, 2025, and “the Nigerian Mission is currently finalising arrangements for his return.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Riyadh for its handling of the matter, stating that it “has commended the cooperation and professionalism of the Saudi authorities throughout the process and also acknowledged the pivotal role played by the NDLEA and the Consulate in Jeddah in securing a just outcome.”
The ministry added that the development “reaffirms and aligns with Nigeria’s enduring commitment to the protection and welfare of its citizens abroad as enshrined in the 4D Doctrine of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
