Posted by By Tope Abiola on
SAUDI authorities have given Nigerian pilgrims stranded in the country 72 hours to leave the country.
SAUDI authorities have given Nigerian pilgrims stranded in the country 72 hours to leave the country.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the ultimatum came as result of the protest of the 730 pilgrims said to be from Osun State who were allegedly abandoned by the State Pilgrims Board (Muslim Wing).
One of the pilgrims, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on the telephone from Medina, alleged that the chairman of the board, Alhaji Lateef Owolabi, abandoned the pilgrims since about three weeks ago.
Alhaji Owolabi was also accused of partiality because, according to the pilgrim, who asked not the to be named, he selected a few of the pilgrims and he returned with them to Nigeria.
According to the pilgrim, a special arrangement was made by the board to arrange transport for relations of the board members who were on the pilgrimage.
This, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, annoyed the 730 others and they held Owolabi and other members of the board hostage.
Meanwhile, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has waded into the crisis and assured the Saudi authorities that the Nigerian government would airlift the stranded pilgrims before the expiration of the ultimatum.