A Nigerian woman, Maryam Hussaini-Abdullahi, has been detained in Saudi Arabia under controversial circumstances after her name was allegedly linked to a suspicious bag mistakenly tagged by Ethiopian Airlines.
Maryam, who travelled alongside her husband, Abdullahi Baffa, for the lesser Hajj on August 6, was reportedly barred from returning home after Saudi officials claimed her details were tied to a “Ghana-must-go” sack containing substances believed to be marijuana.
According to her husband, the couple departed from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport with only two bags. However, upon arrival in Jeddah, their luggage could not be traced.
“We had no spare clothes, so we had to buy new ones in Madinah,” Baffa explained. “About eight days later, I was told one of the bags was available for pickup, but I refused and asked that it be returned to Nigeria instead.”
The situation escalated when the couple attempted to board their return flight. While immigration officials cleared Baffa, his wife was stopped and referred to an investigation centre in Makkah.
At the centre, Saudi officers alleged that Maryam’s name was linked to a suspicious bag. However, Baffa insisted the luggage tag number shown to investigators did not match the couple’s. Despite this, Maryam was placed in detention pending further investigation.
“She told me the investigators showed her a Ghana-must-go sack with strange items inside. She has no connection whatsoever to that bag,” Baffa insisted, accusing Ethiopian Airlines of gross negligence and a possible cover-up.
He further alleged that airline representatives privately admitted the bag’s contents were “not incriminating” and promised to resolve the matter, yet Maryam remains in custody.
Nigerian Government Steps In
The Nigerian Consulate in Madinah has stepped into the matter, confirming they are in contact with Saudi authorities.
Consul General Muazam Nayaya stated that the mission had received a formal complaint and would forward its findings to Abuja for further diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, a staff member of Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the case is under investigation, stressing that tracing baggage through multiple transit points is often “complex and time-consuming.”
Family Demands Justice
Baffa has called on the Nigerian government to intervene urgently, demanding that CCTV footage from Kano airport be released to establish his wife’s innocence.
Saudi Arabia, Libya, and several other Middle Eastern nations are known for their strict anti-drug laws, with narcotics-related offences attracting some of the harshest penalties in the world, including death sentences.
Maryam’s detention has since sparked concerns about airline accountability, aviation safety, and the rights of Nigerian pilgrims abroad.
