FG secures release of Zainab from Saudi prison

Zainab Habib Aliyu has been released from detention and is now at the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Suleiman L. Mustapha, during a press conference on Tuesday at the foreign ministry in Abuja.

Zainab Aliyu was arrested at Jeddah airport after departing from Mallam Aminu Kano airport in Kano for alleged drug trafficking charges.

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Since the incident, Zainab’s case has garnered large social media campaigns to secure her release from detention in Saudi Arabia.

Only yesterday, the senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and the diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said that the case had been brought to President Muhammadu Buhari’s attention and had charged the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, to build a case for the accused Zainab and secure her release.

The official stated that the federal government was able to confirm Zainab’s innocence to the Saudi authorities, and that the second Nigerian also alleged of similar charges, Ibrahim Abubakar, is also due to be released tomorrow to the Nigerian consulate as well.

Zainab Aliyu, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, who travelled for Lesser Hajj in Dec. 2018 was detained by the Saudi Arabia authorities for allegedly being in possession of banned substance.

Mr Habib Aliyu, the father of the alleged drug courier, Zainab, had appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in her daughter’s case and save the ‘innocent’ lady from being executed wrongly.

Aliyu also called on the Saudi authorities and the international community as well as well-meaning individuals to intervene.

Zainab’s father had expressed displeasure over his daughter’s arrest and detention in a Saudi Prison in spite of the recent discovery that she was framed by some drug cartel.

He had explained that the allegations of Zainab entering the country with Tramadol was absolute falsehood as recent events and arrests had confirmed the girl’s innocence.

Zainab, had travelled from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in company of her mother, Mrs Maryam Aliyu, and sister Hajara Aliyu.

She was later arrested over allegations that a luggage, bearing her name tag, contained the unlawful substance.

Zainab who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with an illegal dose of Tramadol was later discovered to be a victim of a cartel that specialised in keeping hard drugs in travellers’ bags.

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