Three Nigerian women who were arrested and prosecuted for alleged drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia have been acquitted and released after spending 10 months in detention.
The women—Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi—were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport in Madinah.
They were accused of possessing a substance suspected to be cocaine while on pilgrimage in the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s federal ministry of foreign affairs, announced the women’s release, crediting “prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements” between the Nigerian government and Saudi authorities.
The arrest was reportedly linked to the earlier detention of two Nigerian nationals at the same airport.
The men were found in possession of cocaine capsules weighing 900.28 grams and 789.5 grams, respectively.
Saudi authorities suspected the three women of being accomplices in the drug trafficking case and detained them for further investigation.
“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 read.
The high-profile arrests had drawn significant attention in both Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, with concerns over their welfare and the fairness of the judicial process.
Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, Nigeria’s consul-general in Jeddah, has received the women and is facilitating the necessary immigration procedures for their return to Nigeria, where they are expected to reunite with their families.
The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the welfare of its citizens abroad, especially in cases involving legal disputes or detention.