Saudi Arabia yesterday deported more Nigerian women pilgrims, despite the country's warnings and 24 hour ultimatum to stop the detentions amd deportations from the holy land.
Saudi authorities deported another batch of 510 Nigerian female pilgrims to this year’s hajj. 171 pilgrims had earlier been deported on Wednesday.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had on Wednesday briefed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House on the matter.
The standoff began when the Saudi Arabian authorities discovered that hundreds of female Nigerian pilgrims were without their statutory male escorts which is a prerequisite to entry into Saudi Arabia.
The authorities of Saudi Arabia insisted that the women were unaccompanied by male relations which was considered against laid down rules of the kingdom.
An adamant Saudi Arabia has so far refused to yield any ground to Nigeria on the issue of alleged unaccompanied female pilgrims, in spite of spirited diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government.
An intriguing development was that the husband of one of the female deportees also returned home with his wife, in protest, when the Saudi Authorities refused to clear his wife, even after explaining that he was the husband of the woman.
A highly placed source at the National Hajj Commission who disclosed this said that the return (in protest) by the male pilgrim in question was an indication that there was more to the stance of the Saudi authorities than meets the eyes.
He said: “On board of the plane bringing the women is also a male pilgrim. He decided to return home with his wife in protest when his explanations and entreaties to the fact that his wife was accompanied fell on deaf ears. That shows clearly that there is more to the issue than meets the eyes”.
It was learnt that the Chairman of the commission, Mallam Mohammed Bello, had a hectic day in
Abuja, yesterday, as he had to shuttle between the Presidency and the National Assembly to brief his bosses in the executive, as well as, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who is the leader of the Federal Government delegation to this year’s hajj.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were, until yesterday, still making efforts to get the necessary clearance for a Federal Government delegation to visit Saudi Arabia with a view to resolving the issue.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had on Wednesday constituted a Presidential delegation to interface with the Saudi authorities over the issue surrounding the detained Nigerian female pilgrims at King Abdul-Azziz International Airport, Jeddah.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, named Aminu Tambuwal as leader of that delegation.
Other members are: Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nuruddeen Mohammed, Ambassador Shehu Galadanchi; Sheikh Sherif Saleh and Chairman of the Hajj Commission, Muhammad Bello.
The delegation is expected to depart for Saudi Arabia as soon as an appointment is finalised with the appropriate Saudi authorities.
Then Hajj shld be cancelled
ReplyDeleteWhy should it be cancelled do you reasoned at all?
DeleteIt is a lie that a woman with her husband were also deported. That man only lied about his claims. BCC and CNN reported that they are checking surnames of couples to confirm so what else is hiding here? Why are men not deported? The rulr of Allah and His messenger can never be changed, let them go with thier husbamd or approved partner. PERIOD!
ReplyDeletea visitor does not have the right over the owner of the house.if the visitor can not complied with my term then he should stay away.i think nigerian should stop this arogance atitute and lack of indispline and complied with Saudi term.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lekan, but this is exactly what is happening in the country where some people think they can dictate to the sons of the land and be lords over them. Thousands are already dead because some people want to be in charge by all means, never submissive to the laws of any land; they want to be lord both in their home and outside. I hope this teach a lesson.
DeleteThe handwork of GOd. U know, God is not mocked. And pls stóp saying Nigeria was embarrassed or humiliated by this.cos we sre not.
ReplyDeleteIn all indication this has to do with insecurity on the side of saudi.we were told that women deported ranges between 25-35 elderly women are allowed.from all indication they have been cases of immorality and that is what saudi is trying to curb.with all due respect to my muslim brothers,let us know that in every good eggs there is a bad one.
ReplyDeleteBetter, can't u use ur tongue to count ur teeth? Even those u called ur brothers rejected u. Do u think dat u can go to another person's land to break their laws as u do in this country, do u fink dat u can fool dem? How many times do our gov give an altimatum to d sheding of innocent blood dat is going on every day in dis country? Shameless pple
ReplyDeleteNigerians, just learn to follow rules ok! This is not Nigeria where anything goes as they always say. You can see how indisciplined all the leaders are, running helter skelter to get a country to change their laid down rules, foolishness!
ReplyDeleteAdeyinka Fadehan
Nigerians, just learn to follow rules ok! This is not Nigeria where anything goes as they always say. You can see how indisciplined all the leaders are, running helter skelter to get a country to change their laid down rules, foolishness!
ReplyDeleteAdeyinka Fadehan
This is almost funny. Many Nigerian muslims want to be angry but cannot comfortably articulate it as the Saudis are the Isrealis to a Christian.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why dis Muslims are not protesting now they shld go to Saudi Arabia embassy in Nigeria & protest vehemently like dey will do if its America or shame no dey gree dem. don't bother just establish a mecca at sokoto & safe urself d stress of going to Saudi Arabia
ReplyDeleteBut is this the first time Nigerian women are going to hajj without male companions? why is the whole detention and deportation now?
ReplyDeleteWell,God knows why, thou its a petty.
ReplyDelete