The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has commended the Federal Government over the release of Zainab Aliyu from Saudi Arabia, just as it warned travellers and intending pilgrims to remain vigilant over their luggage to avoid falling prey to unscrupulous drug couriers.
Zainab Aliyu, a student of Yusuf Maitama-Sule University, Kano, who travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj with her relatives, was arrested in the country on December 25 2018 for alleged drug trafficking.
However, the Nigerian government proved her innocence and secured her release on Tuesday, a development that was widely commended.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NAHCON’s Head of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, commanded 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 victim’s 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.”
Mrs 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.
