Second batch of deportees: 509 women, one man deported from Saudi Arabia

September 27, 2012 17:44

NAN-H-122

Pilgrims

Abuja, Sept. 27, 2012 (NAN) A total of 509 women including a man, repatriated from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, will arrive in the country at 8.30 p.m, an official has said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the number of women so far deported from the Holy Land since the transportation of pilgrims to this year’s Hajj began has risen to more than 1,000.

The spokesman of the National Hajj Commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, told NAN that the deportees were expected to arrive at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

He said that the man who was being repatriated said he decided to join the women because the Saudi authorities refused to allow his wife to gain entry into the Holy Land.

 ``The people will arrive in Nigeria around 8.30 p.m. through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, they have already left Jedda,’’ he said.

He said that the commission had made adequate arrangements to receive them.

Mana did not, however, provide further details about the states where the pilgrims took off from.

NAN reports that women from Nigeria who did not have a male companion or escort ``Maharam’’ were being deported from the Holy Land.

The Nigerian Government has sent a powerful delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to discuss with the Saudi authorities. (NAN)

UMD/JIE/SIA

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