A Kano woman, Maryam Hussaini-Abdullahi, has been arrested and detained in Saudi Arabia after a bag containing marijuana was allegedly mismatched with her luggage by Ethiopian Airlines. Mrs. Abdullahi and her husband, Abdullahi Baffa, had traveled to perform a lesser Hajj on August 6.

Allegations Against Ethiopian Airlines

According to Baffa, the couple had only one bag each, which was duly cleared before departure from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. However, upon arrival in Jiddah, their luggage was missing, and they reported the issue to the luggage claim desk. Baffa alleged that the airline added the strange bag to his wife’s luggage without her consent.

Detention and Investigation

After eight days, Baffa received a call that one of the bags was ready for collection, but he declined and requested it be sent back to Nigeria. However, when they returned to Madinah to catch their return flight, Baffa was informed that his wife had been restricted from traveling due to a bag containing suspicious items. The couple was told that Mrs. Abdullahi’s name was linked to the bag, but the luggage tags and bag numbers did not match.

Call for Intervention

Baffa has appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene and secure his wife’s release. He also urged the management of the Aminu Kano International Airport to release video footage of their arrivals and departures. The Nigerian Consul General in Jiddah, Muazam Nayaya, has confirmed that the incident has been reported to the consulate and an investigation is underway.

Similar Incident in 2018

This is not the first time a Nigerian has been detained in Saudi Arabia over alleged drug trafficking. In 2018, Zainab Aliyu Kila was detained after illicit drugs were found in a bag bearing her name tag. Investigations revealed that a criminal gang, in concert with airport officials, added the contentious bag to her name without her knowledge. She was released in April 2019.

Ethiopian Airlines’ Response

A source working for Ethiopian Airlines said an investigation has been launched into the matter, but it may take time due to the involvement of multiple stations. The airline has not provided further information on the case.