Not less than one thousand Nigerian female pilgrims have been arrested and detained by the authorities of Saudi Arabia for not presenting their “maharram”, that is, the approved male companion accompanying them on the trip, usually a husband, father or brother.
However, effort is on top gear by the Nigeria government as it has engaged in serious talks with the Saudi authorities in order to resolve the problem, and ensure Nigerians enjoy their stay in the country.
Meanwhile, a Nigerian lady, one of the detainees had narrated her experience to the BBC “Focus on Africa Programme,” The detainees, Bilkisu Nasidi disclosed that the women were being detained in “terrible condition.”
According to her, “as at Monday, we were about 400 and we were being held in very unsuitable circumstance in the prison by the Saudi authorities”.
She said they had been sleeping on the floor for three days, and an average of 200 women share four toilets.
She denied that all of them were without Maharram or guardian and that some of such guardians have opted not to leave the airport in order to give them some comfort.
“If they don’t want us to go into Saudi Arabia let them take us home, we are tired,” Bilkisu Nasidi said.
Also, the Nigerian Consul in Jeddah, Ambassador Abdullahi Umar spoke on BBC Hausa Service on Monday confirmed thatthe Nigerian officials had been providing food and toiletries for the detained pilgrims.
He added that a formal letter had been delivered to the Saudis and the issue was being taken up with the Governor of Makkah region, who would decide on the matter.
Meanwhile, Nigeria government officials and the House of Representatives have criticized the Saudis government for detaining over 1000 Nigerian female pilgrim in the prison over the alleged “maharram”.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi Mukhtar in his own reaction when speaking with reporters said the Saudis allegation on Nigerian pilgrims was not true.
According to him,the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SMPWB) “qualify and identify as muharram of female pilgrims. And that has been the case for so many decades.”
He said that the situation is so confusing that “the Saudis randomly select flights to screen and detain.”
His words, “All the 10 flights that landed in Medina were allowed into the country without any incidence. Also, flights 23, 24 and 25 were not touched at all”.
Mukhtar wondered why only Nigerian pilgrims were selected for this treatment by the Saudi authorities.
“In fact, there is no such issue in the memorandum of understanding signed between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into the circumstance leading to the detention of the women whose number has now risen to about 1000 by the Saudi Arabian authorities in Jeddah.
In a motion adopted by the Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano), the House mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs to interface with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and report back today.
In his motion, Sumaila expressed shock that the affected pilgrims were people who applied for Saudi Arabian visas, and were approved by its embassy without such rules made known to them.
He said that the action of the Saudi authorities negated the long standing understanding between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Hajj performance.
Also, Rep. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP,Abia) who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said her committee was interfacing with officials of the foreign ministry to secure pilgrims release.
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