Maryam Hussaini-Abdullahi, a Kano-based Nigerian woman, has been arrested by the Saudi Arabian authorities for allegedly having a bag containing marijuana that was mismatched with her luggage by Ethiopian Airlines.
Maryam, who travelled with her husband, Abdullahi Baffa, on August 6 for a lesser Hajj, was held after police connected a ‘Ghana must go’ sack to her name.
Speaking to Daily Nigerian, Baffa accused the airline of adding the strange bag to his wife’s luggage without her consent.
According to him, the couple travelled with only one bag each, which were duly cleared before departure from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Abdullahi said he was shocked that upon arrival in Jeddah, they could not find their luggage.
He said, “Our flight was connected through Addis Ababa, and we arrived at Jiddah on 7th August. We scaled all the screening processes without any hassle.
“But when we arrived, our luggage was missing, and I reported it to the luggage claim desk.
“They gave us a complaint form to fill, and an acknowledged copy was returned to us. They also told us to expect feedback within 48 hours.”
“But I protested, explaining to them that we had no spare clothes, but they insisted that was the procedure,” he said.
According to him, they proceeded to Madinah and bought new clothes and other essentials.
After eight days, Baffa said he received a call that one of the bags was ready for collection in Jeddah, but he declined and requested it be sent back to Nigeria.
However, he said things took a dramatic turn when they returned to Madinah to catch their return flight to Nigeria on Thursday via the same airline.
Narrating what transpired, he said, “It was at that point that I was informed that my wife has been restricted, and she can’t travel with me.
“When we arrived for departure, Ethiopian Airlines cleared my passport but said my wife had been blocked from travelling.
“When I enquired about the reason, the immigration officers referred us to the Rihab Centre in Makkah.
“And because Thursdays are not working days in the Kingdom, we couldn’t go. So I approached the Nigerian Consulate in Madinah and reported the incident.
“The head of the consulate made contacts to find out; he was briefed on the situation. He was very nice to us and even attached a staff member of the consulate to accompany us.
“So when we arrived at the investigation office in Makkah on Sunday, we were told in the presence of the consulate staff that my wife’s name was linked to a bag containing suspicious items,” Baffa narrated.
He said security operatives compared her luggage tags with the impounded bag but found no match.
“The bag was tagged with her name, and the police attached her pictures to the bag – but luckily the number on the bag was different from the one issued to us by the airline. But they insisted on detaining pending further investigations,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, “When I went to visit her in the cell, she told me the operatives showed her a Ghana-must-go sack containing wrapped items.”
“But the items were totally strange to us. Because she had no connection whatsoever to the bag and its content. My wife is completely innocent,” Mr Baffa said.
He accused the airline of attempting to cover up the incident.
“I sent someone who has been in contact with the airline, and they have appealed to him not to escalate the matter.
“According to him, the airline told him that the contents of the bag were not incriminating and the issue will be resolved soon.
“But if that claim is true, why is my wife in detention, and why would they engage in such an unholy conduct? This is a pure act of criminality, and we will not take it lightly,” he added.
He appealed to the Nigerian government to urgently intervene and secure the release of his wife.
He also appealed to the management of the Aminu Kano International Airport to release video footage of their arrivals and departures from the airport.
When Daily Nigerian contacted a source working for Ethiopian Airlines, the source said an investigation had been launched on the matter.
“The issue will be investigated. But it cannot be instant because there are many stations involved,” the source said.
Prodded further, the source said, “I don’t have any information except that they will trace and investigate, which is the normal procedure.”
Also, when Daily Nigerian contacted the Nigerian Consul General in Jeddah, Muazam Nayaya, he said the incident had been reported to the consulate.
He, however, added that investigations were ongoing.
“With regard to the incident, we have received a report on this matter, and we have commenced an investigation and will soon send a report to Headquarters,” Nayaya said.
