Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has commended the Federal Government for securing the release of Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian falsely accused of drug peddling in Saudi Arabia.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Malam Mohammed Garba made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kano.
He said by succeeding in establishing Zainab’s innocence, the Nigerian government, through the NDLEA confirms her as victim of a drug cartel at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The Governor also welcomed confirmation by the Nigerian Mission in the Kingdom that the second Nigerian involved in similar case, will be released to the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The governor also commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Aviation, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora and the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia for their intervention.
Ganduje, therefore, stressed the need for vigilance at the nation’s airport in order to protect Nigerians from falling prey to cartels that specialise in planting drugs in the bags of unsuspecting travelers.
NAN recalled that Zainab Aliyu, a student of Yusuf Maitama-Sule University, Kano, was arrested in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 25 2018 for alleged drug trafficking.
She travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj with her relatives.
In a related development, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has also commended the Federal Government over the release of Zainab Aliyu.
The Head, Public Affairs of NAHCON, Mrs Fatima Usara, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja
Usara also said that the commission commended the unwavering drive by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards securing the pilgrim’s release from prison
“Equally, NAHCON hails all the efforts by our various missions in Saudi Arabia towards achieving the same objective.
“Also commendable is the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for honouring the investigations carried out to prove the victims innocence.
“Indeed, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, and other diplomats played vital roles in the correspondence that led to the release of our fellow citizen from jail.”
Usara said NAHCON warned travellers to remain vigilant over their luggage to avoid falling prey to unscrupulous drug couriers waiting to ferry their illicit consignments through unsuspecting persons.
” This warning is very necessary considering the fact that the peak of Ramadan Umrah is approaching,” she said.
