Madinah Airport Saga: Saudi Officials Apologise to Nigerian Pilgrims
The Saudi Government has apologised to two Nigerian pilgrims maltreated by security personnel at the Madinah Airport, popularly called Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
It has also promised to appropriately punish the security officials involved in the ugly airport episode
Deputy Governor of Madina region, Sheikh Mohammad Albijawi, who tendered the apology during a visit to the victims in their hotel, assured that the affected officials will not go unpunished.
Sheikh Albijawi however charged Nigerian pilgrims to be of good conduct and perform the annual spiritual pilgrimage based on religious guidelines and instructions.
He said the Saudi authorities have put facilities in place to ensure a hitch free Hajj for the pilgrims this year.
Responding, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Umaru Salisu Zainabu praised the Saudi authorities for swiftly responding to the incident.
In their reaction, the assaulted pilgrims, Audu Damina Muhammad and Ibrahim Nani Godi expressed gratitude to the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for responding to their plight promptly.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad had announced that 79,000 intending Pilgrims would be performing this year’s Hajj. According to him, the breakdown shows that 60,000 pilgrims were under state government quota with 19,000 others under private tour operators.
The first airlift from Nigeria took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on July 30, 2017 and would be concluded by August 26, 2017 when the Jeddah International Airport will be closed.
Reports said the Nigerian pilgrims are expected to commence their return trip on September 6 with the last flight schedule for October 8, 2017
