Nigerian Student Who Was Wrongly Jailed For Drug Trafficking In Saudi Turns Narcotic Officer

Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a Kano State student who was framed by a drug cartel and jailed in a Saudi Arabian prison for alleged drug trafficking, has joined the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Zainab is amongst the 2000 newly employed Assistant Superintendents of Narcotics Course 15 that passed out from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Academy, on Friday, in Jos, Plateau State.

Mr Habibu Aliyu Kila, Zainab’s Father, confirmed to Daily Trust that Zainab is now a Narcotic Officer.

In December 2018, Zainab, who travelled for Lesser Hajj with her family, was wrongfully jailed for months in Saudi prison by the Saudi security officials for being in possession of a bag containing illicit drugs purportedly bearing a tag with her name.

After a series of investigations conducted by the Airport Authorities and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano, as well as interventions of the government, media and civil society organisations, Zainab was later exonerated.

The federal government secured her release after it was discovered that she was framed by a drug cartel at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, that specializes in the planting of illicit drugs on innocent travellers without their knowledge.