3 Nigerian pilgrims arrested over possession of cocaine

Three pil­grims from Kwara state, Nigeria, have reportedly been arrested by the Saudi Ara­bian authorities for allegedly be­ing in possession of substance suspected to be cocaine.

The three pilgrims, whose names have not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report were among the first batch of 505 Pilgrims from the state.

They were arrested in Madin­nah by the Saudi security opera­tives on Tuesday.

According to the Executive Sec­retary, Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajia Fatima Ab­olore-Jimoh, who confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, the Saudi Arabian law would certainly take its course on the three suspected drug traffickers.

The penalty for drug trafficking in Saudi Ara­bia is death by beheading.

Describing the arrest as unfor­tunate and painful in spite of sev­eral appeals to them to be good ambassadors of Kwara and Nige­ria, the executive secretary said they were still in the custody of the Saudi authority.