Alleged Drug Trafficking: FG Secures Zainab Aliyu’s Release

Ololade Adeyanju/

Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has announced that the Federal Government has secured the release of a Nigerian student, Zainab Habibu, who was detained in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Ahmad tweeted Zainab’s release on his verified Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad, today

Zainab, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, was arrested after a banned drug, Tramadol, was found in her bag.

She however claimed it was planted in her luggage by unknown persons.

The student had travelled from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in company with her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, and sister, Hajara Aliyu, but she was arrested over allegations that a bag bearing her name tag contained the unlawful substance.

Zainab, who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with an illegal dosage of Tramadol, was later discovered to be a victim of a cartel that specialised in keeping hard drugs in travellers’ bags, some of whom were already in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, yesterday said Buhari had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to immediately intervene in her case.