Nigerian female pilgrims still held by Saudi Arabia

Diplomatic efforts to stop the deportation of the 400 female Nigerian pilgrims who were detained at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah were still on as at last night. Daily Trust learnt that the pilgrims were still held by the Saudi officials.The pilgrims were detained on Sunday for travelling without their approved male partners and the Saudi authorities had threatened to deport them back to Nigeria on the next available hajj plane. The pilgrims arrived in Jeddah in two separate Max Air flights from Jigawa and Sokoto states.A source very close to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) hinted last night that diplomatic efforts were still ongoing to stop the deportation.'As I am talking to you now the matter is beyond the commission, it is now a diplomatic matter between the two countries. The issue now is how to stop the deportation of the pilgrims,' the source said.However, NAHCON spokesman Uba Mana yesterday told the Associated Press that the women were allowed to proceed with their pilgrimage following diplomatic intervention. Mana said that there was a mix up in the agreement reached between Nigeria and the Saudi authorities on the 2012 hajj.{loadposition user30}He said Saudi authorities held them for not travelling with a male relative due to a 'communication gap.'He said an agreement between the countries exempts Nigerian women from requiring a male relative to escort them during the Hajj pilgrimage, which costs about $4,000 per person. Mana appealed to families of those whose wives or relations were detained to be calm as the pilgrims would not undergo any hardship apart from the restriction in movement.He said that the 2012 hajj was on course, adding that the commission officials were monitoring the situation, adding, 'every country wants its pilgrims to be treated well''.More than 17,000 Nigeria pilgrims are already in the holy land.
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