FG airlifts Nigerian pilgrims to Israel amid Gaza crisis, warns against unauthorised movements

As the violent conflict between the State of Israel and the Hamas militant group continues, claiming hundreds of lives, the Federal Government of Nigeria has warned Nigerian pilgrims against making unauthorised and illegal trips while in the holy land.

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) Executive Secretary, Rev Yakubu Pam, delivered the warning during an orientation program for intending pilgrims for the last batch of the Easter pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.

He emphasised that any pilgrim found engaging in illegal activities would face deportation.

Pam stated, “The commission would not hesitate to deport any pilgrim who plans to abscond during the pilgrimage.”

The orientation program was conducted in Abuja and Lagos, supervised by the Mobilization Department of the commission.

Pam reassured intending consular and self-sponsored pilgrims that their safety remained a top priority for the commission.

Expressing optimism that the crisis in Israel would soon de-escalate, Pam stated that it would allow the last batch of pilgrims to visit Israel from Jordan.

Regarding the security situation in Israel, the NCPC boss clarified, “The current fragile security situation in Israel is majorly being felt in Southern Israel, which is not within our pilgrimage circle.”

According to a statement by NCPC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, the executive secretary disclosed that the pilgrims would commence their journey on Tuesday and arrive in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday.

They would spend four days in Jordan before proceeding to Israel, contingent on the security situation.

The statement further revealed that the fifth batch of pilgrims currently undertaking pilgrimage in Israel had crossed over to Amman, Jordan and would arrive back in Nigeria on Monday.

In addressing the concerns of private pilgrims who had already arrived in Israel, Pam assured them that the commission considers their safety a top priority and that their pilgrimage journey would commence on October 10, 2023, to arrive in Amman, Jordan, on October 11, 2023, with further plans to proceed to Israel depending on the security situation in the region.

He also cautioned intending consular and self-sponsored pilgrims to refrain from any negative behaviour that might jeopardise the completion of their pilgrimage, reiterating the commission’s commitment to deport any pilgrim attempting to abscond during the expedition.