Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama yesterday expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to Saudi Arabian authority for releasing Zainab Aliyu, who was held for alleged drug trafficking offence.
Miss Aliyu, a student of the Maitama Bello University, Kano, and Ibrahim Abubakar, who were erroneously accused of importing banned substances to Saudi Arabia, were found to have been implicated by a syndicate at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), in Kano.
Reacting to the release, Onyeama said his ministry had engaged the Saudi Arabian authorities in a quiet diplomacy to secure the release of the two Nigerians.
He said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been conducting a very quiet diplomacy with the Saudi authorities for some time now. We provided them with documentation and this has obviously led to the release.
