Zainab Aliyu: HURIWA raises question about swift release of alleged drug trafficker

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has reacted to the release of Miss Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian citizen held in Saudi Arabia over alleged drug trafficking.

HURIWA said that Government must show that it did not achieve this because the victim is from the Northern region of Nigeria.

It said that questions of why similar cases were never attended to needed to be answered with clarity.

HURIWA said this in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday.

It commended the President Muhammadu Buhari government on “the unprecedented foreign policy millstone achieved in one instance in the area of effective intervention which culminated in the reported release of Zainab Aliyu- a Kano State born pilgrim in whose travelling bags suspected hard drugs were planted by some airport workers.”

The statement added, “It is remarkable to state that this small but significant landmark in area of foreign affairs which was secured from the Saudi Arabian government is something that must be celebrated.

“First and foremost, Saudi Arabia is a hardcore religious conservative political entity that does not tolerate drug trafficking of any dimension. It must also be noted that Saudi Arabia is one amongst the three most notorious global executioners of suspects which includes North Korea and China in over a decade. It recently executed a Nigeria and  about four dozen others.

“So for a government to secure the release of a citizen whose fate was hanging precariously like a sword of Damocles from a country that is notorious for being absolutely intolerant of drug offences/drug offenders is definitely a remarkable achievement that must be celebrated across all party lines.

“Government must show that it did not achieve this because the victim is from the Northern region of Nigeria. Questions of why similar cases were never attended to needed to be answered with clarity.

“Aside the seemingly political Pyrrhic victory attendant in this instant case, there is a fundamental need for Nigerian Government to intensify campaigns against drug trafficking, human trafficking and all sorts of social menace that threatens the corporate/public image of Nigeria globally.

“We must however warn that this shouldn’t be a one off case in which the government will go back to sleep believing that it has achieved so much, it must however be drummed into the ears of top federal foreign affairs and affiliate government officials that the job of re-branding the damage of global public perception of Nigeria has not started.

“This Zainab Aliyu’s scenario is only but a preamble and a foundation upon which our foreign policy enforcers should endeavor to carry out a sustainable and consistent evidence-based campaign to get our citizens to comply with global best practices in all their foreign travel transactions.

“We must wage a determined war against drug and human trafficking and other forms of organised crimes that have tarnished the international image of Nigeria.

“Also Zainab Aliyu’s case has shown that there is serious danger in our airports and that security at our airports can be breached seamlessly by unscrupulous elements who have found a new franchise of trafficking hard drugs through travelling bags of innocent travelers.

“Nigeria has to declare a state of security emergency to flush out those hooligans who are already embedded within the official hierarchy of the airports’ staff and management. The handling of travelling bags must be done professionally and CCTVS must operate 24/7 at all our airports to watch out for these criminals working as staff in the airports. Enough is enough.

“Specifically, the Zainab Aliyu’s case is an eye opener, however we commend the foreign affairs ministry for this totally impressive effort.”