Kano Woman Detained in Saudi Arabia After Alleged Ethiopian Airlines Luggage Mix-Up Involving Marijuana

A Kano woman, Maryam Hussaini-Abdullahi, has been detained in Saudi Arabia after authorities allegedly linked her to a bag containing marijuana that her family insists was mistakenly tagged to her by Ethiopian Airlines.

Mrs Hussaini-Abdullahi travelled with her husband, Abdullahi Baffa, on August 6 for the lesser Hajj. According to Mr Baffa, the couple departed from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport with only one bag each, both cleared before departure. However, upon arrival in Jeddah on August 7, they could not locate their luggage and were advised by Ethiopian Airlines staff to wait for 48 hours after filing a missing baggage complaint.

Mr Baffa explained that they bought new clothes in Madinah while awaiting updates. More than a week later, the airline informed him that one of the bags had been found in Jeddah, but he declined collection and requested it be sent back to Nigeria. The situation escalated when they attempted to return home on August 14. At the airport, Mrs Hussaini-Abdullahi was barred from boarding.

Saudi immigration directed them to the Rihab Centre in Makkah, where police alleged that her name was linked to a “Ghana must go” sack filled with suspicious items. Mr Baffa said security operatives confirmed that the bag bore her name but not the same luggage number as the one issued to them in Nigeria. Despite this discrepancy, she was detained for investigation.

“When I visited her, she told me they showed her a sack with wrapped items that were completely strange to us. My wife is innocent,” he said, accusing Ethiopian Airlines of attempting a cover-up. He added that airline representatives had privately claimed the bag’s contents were not incriminating, but his wife remains in detention.

Mr Baffa appealed to the Nigerian government to secure her release and urged Aminu Kano International Airport authorities to release CCTV footage of their departure.

A source at Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that an investigation has been opened, noting that the process will involve multiple stations. Nigerian Consul General in Jeddah, Muazam Nayaya, also confirmed that the consulate is aware of the matter and has begun inquiries.

The case recalls the ordeal of Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian student arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2018 after a drug-laden bag was fraudulently tagged in her name. She was later cleared of wrongdoing and released in 2019 after Nigerian authorities intervened.