Zainab Aliyu, a 22-year-old Nigerian student who was apprehended by Saudi Arabia jurisdiction for reported hard drug trafficking, has finally spoken on her 124-day ordeal in Saudi Arabia prison.

Speaking on her experience in an interview with Daily Trust days, Zainab said she became inconsolable when the Saudi officials dashed into a room where she was staying with her mother for question over a consignment of hard substance "which they said we had illegally brought into the Holy Land from Nigeria."

Zainab, who is a student of the Maitama Sule University, Kano, also added that she was apprehended for further probe together with one Malam Ibrahim Abubakar over the same accusation.

Recounting her trial further, Zainab said she was taken to the prison located outside Jeddah, around 12am Saudi time in signposted the beginning of her prison trial, though in her heart she did not commit any offence. 

She said: ''No, nobody told me where I was to be taken to, and even after I was taken there, I never imagined that it was a prison, because deep inside my heart, I knew I did not commit any offense that would warrant such punishment.

''But after some time, I realized that I was actually taken to prison. So, I was given a room, and we were four in it. In fact, it is after I got there that one of my roommates helped me with her cell phone with which I called my mother.

''We were being fed well, but it was not like home at all. Honestly, I was not able to eat real food at the first instance, but later I started.

“Initially, I was taking only water and juice which the prison officials provided us. Later, I began to eat, because there was no way I could survive without it.

“Also, with the counseling that I had been receiving from my parents, I got the courage to continue with my life there.”

Talking about her relationship with other people in the custody, and how they were being treated, the 22-year-old girl said she didn’t trust anyone at first.

 She added that contrary to what people might know a prison for, she and other prisoners were treated well and there was no avenue for embarrassment.

''They treated us like human beings. Nobody humiliated or harassed anyone in there. And I spent 124 days there, '' she added.

The Nigerian student however, said her life changed when she met an Ethiopian lady called Rehisty. According to her, there language was a barrier at first, before they conformed to Arabic.

"When we were brought there, together, we found it difficult to communicate, because she could only understand a little English, and I understand only a little Arabic.

"So, it took us some time before we started communicating, in Arabic, which I picked up while in detention. I learnt pure Arabic

She said while in prison, she joined a Qur'an class, learnt pure Arabic and memorized half of the Holy Book.

"I also joined Tahfiuz School, and Alhamdulillah, I was able to memorize half of the Holy Qur’an during my stay in the prison. I also learnt how to live with people from different backgrounds."

She acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari, Madam Abike Dabiri, the minister of justice, Justice Malami and Nigerians for the affection bestowed on her.