In apparent defiance of Nigeria’s ultimatum, Saudi Arabia has deported 510 female pilgrims. The deportees, mainly from Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, arrived at the Kano International Airport at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, aboard a Meridian Airline flight.
The female returnees were among the Nigerian women pilgrims for the 2012 hajj detained in Medina and Jeddah for not having male escorts while trying to enter Mecca.
Vice President Namadi Sambo had on Wednesday summoned the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Khaled O.Y. Abdrabuh, to register the Federal Government’s displeasure over the incident. Sambo also gave Saudi Arabia a 24-hour ultimatum to redress the situation.
Spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Mallam Uba Mana, said those brought back were a part of 1020 earlier detained by the Saudi officials at the King Fahd Airport.
Mana was however silent on the fate of others who were still detained in Saudi Arabia. He said the commission hoped that the Federal Government at the Presidency level would soon settle the matter which is already threatening the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
“We are awaiting a response from the King of Saudi Arabia so that a discussion can be opened between the two parties. We strongly believe that there is hope in sight, we hope that shortly the whole thing would be resolved,” Mana said.
Spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Mallam Uba Mana, said those brought back were a part of 1020 earlier detained by the Saudi officials at the King Fahd Airport.
Mana was however silent on the fate of others who were still detained in Saudi Arabia. He said the commission hoped that the Federal Government at the Presidency level would soon settle the matter which is already threatening the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
“We are awaiting a response from the King of Saudi Arabia so that a discussion can be opened between the two parties. We strongly believe that there is hope in sight, we hope that shortly the whole thing would be resolved,” Mana said.
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