The Federal Government of Nigeria has given the Saudi Arabian
government 24 hours to resolve the issues surrounding the detention of
some Nigerian female pilgrims.
It was reported
that over 750 Nigerian female pilgrims in Saudi Arabia adjudged by the
authorities to be without male companion (Muharram) have been detained
in Jeddah and Madinah. Sahara Reporters put the figure of detained women at 1,000.
Some of the women who have been held
since Sunday were enroute to make the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hundreds of the women were sleeping on the floor, did not have their
belongings and were sharing four toilets at the King Abdulaziz
International Airport in Jeddah.
Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo
expressed the country’s displeasure over the treatment being meted out
to Nigerian pilgrims performing this year’s pilgrimage in the holy land.
He said reports available to him suggested that only Nigerian pilgrims
were being subjected to such dehumanising treatment.
Reportedly, women under the age of 35
were being detained for not travelling with a male relative which is a
requirement for women on the Hajj. However, there had earlier been
a longstanding agreement between National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and
the Saudi authorities allows visas to be issued for Nigerian women
going to Mecca as long as they are accompanied by their local Hajj
committee officials. But since Sunday, hundreds of Nigerian women have
been stopped at the airports in Jeddah and Medina.
They are particularly stopping women between the ages of 25 and 35 without a male relative.
The Vice President therefore told the
Saudi Arabian authorities to apply caution and flexibility to allow the
pilgrims undertake their sacred religious duties.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on
Wednesday suspended airlifting of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia pending the
resolution of the diplomatic row between Nigeria and Saudi authorities. 
Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters
Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters
Takun la,dis is so unfair
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