Pilgrims waiting to collect their luggage from the baggage carousel at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. [X/Babajide Sanwo-Olu]
Due to the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas militant group of Palestine, Nigerians who went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in Israel have been airlifted back home.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this in a tweet via his personal Twitter handle on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
Sanwo-Olu thanked the Ministry of Home Affairs for evacuating 310 Nigerian pilgrims from the war zone.
He shared the news with photos of the pilgrims at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport waiting to collect their luggage from the baggage carousel.
“I’m happy to announce that we have successfully airlifted and returned all three hundred and ten (310) citizens who went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel. I want to thank you all for your concern and I must also express my joy to our Ministry of Home Affairs for a job well done. We pray for peace in Israel, and indeed the world at large,” the governor tweeted.
Following the Hamas devastating attacks that claimed hundreds of lives in Israel in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria warned Nigerian pilgrims against making unauthorised trips to Jerusalem.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, issued the warning while speaking at an orientation programme for the intending pilgrims.
The situation between Israel and the Hamas group has escalated to a full-blown war as the Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant on Monday, October 9, 2023, ordered a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip.
