Drugs: FG Secures Zainab Aliyu’s Release in Saudi Arabia

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Federal Government has today secured the release of Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian student who was arrested in Saudi Arabia over alleged possession of banned drugs.

Confirming the development, the permanent secretary in the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said the government was able to establish Zainab’s innocence.

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, also confirmed Zainab’s release.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to intervene in the case.

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