Three Nigerian women accused of drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia have been acquitted and released after spending 10 months in detention.
The women, identified as Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi, were arrested on March 5, 2024, at the Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport in Madinah during a pilgrimage. They were accused of being in possession of a substance suspected to be cocaine.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced their release, attributing it to “prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements” between the Nigerian government and Saudi authorities.
“The arrest of the three women was a result of the earlier arrest of two Nigerian nationals, who were found in possession of 80 capsules of cocaine weighing 900.28 gm and 70 capsules of cocaine weighing 789.5 gm, respectively,” the statement said.
The women were detained on suspicion of being accomplices to the trafficking of the banned substances found on the two previously arrested Nigerians.
Ebienfa recalled that the arrests had attracted significant attention in both Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, sparking diplomatic efforts to ensure their fair trial and eventual release.
“Their successful release was achieved after prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements, which culminated in their discharge and acquittal, as well as subsequent handover to the consulate-general of Nigeria in Jeddah,” the statement added.
The women were received by Amb. Muazam Nayaya, Nigeria’s consul-general in Jeddah, who is facilitating their return to Nigeria following the completion of necessary immigration processes.
