Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday presented N3 million cash gift to Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar, who were recently released from Saudi Arabia prison.
Ganduje announced the donation when a Federal Government delegation officially presented Aliyu and Abubakar to him at the Government House, Kano.
Ganduje said that Aliyu, who traveled for Lesser Hajj with her mother, was arrested by Saudi Security Officials in December 2018 in a hotel in Madinah.
The governor said the girl was accused of possessing a bag containing illicit drugs purportedly bearing a tag with her name.
He added that Abubakar, unrelated to Aliyu, who also traveled on the same aircraft, was also arrested on the same day.
The governor, who announced the donation of N3 million gift to each of them, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the timely intervention to save the lives of the two victims.
He also urged security agencies at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to redouble their efforts in curbing such crimes.
Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said they were at the Government House to officially hand over two indigenes of the state to the governor.
Dabiri-Erewa, who led led Federal Government delegation to Kano, said the intervention by Buhari, directing that all efforts be exerted to secure their release, facilitated the expedited final resolution of the matter.
She explained that investigations conducted by the Airport Authorities and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Kano, discovered a drug cartel at the Kano International Airport, Kano, that specialises in planting illicit drugs on innocent travelers without their knowledge.
The chairperson then commended President Buhari for his efforts in securing the release of Aliyu and Abubakar.
Both Aliyu and Abubakar commended the Nigerian Government, Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Chairperson of Nigeria Diaspora Commission and Kano State Government for their efforts.