- Three Nigerian women, Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi, were released from detention in Saudi Arabia.
- They were arrested in March 2024 for alleged possession of cocaine while on pilgrimage.
- The women spent 10 months in detention before their release.
- Their arrest was linked to the earlier arrest of two Nigerian nationals found with cocaine.
- The Nigerian government secured their release after prolonged diplomatic and legal efforts.
Saudi Arabia has released three Nigerian women, Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah, and Fatima Kannai Gamboi, after they spent 10 months in jail for alleged drug trafficking . The women were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, after two Nigerian nationals were found with cocaine capsules weighing a total of 1.69 kilograms .
Their detention was a result of suspicion that they were accomplices and had assisted in trafficking the banned substance. However, after prolonged diplomatic and legal efforts, they were acquitted and released .
The Nigerian government played a significant role in securing their release through high-level diplomatic engagement with the Saudi authorities . The women were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Jeddah, and are currently awaiting immigration processes to return to Nigeria and reunite with their families .
