Four Nigerian pilgrims from FCT has been arrested by Saudi Authority for not wearing their NUSUK ID card, a room mate of the victims informed HAJJ REPORTERS today
According to the source, the pilgrims who flew into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on FCT flight 5, 6th, 7th and 8th were arrested around 1 pm in front of FCT pilgrim’s hotel NAMA AL-ASRIYA opposite land premium in Shara Mansur.
HAJJ REPORTERS spoke with the Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board who confirmed the arrest and said they “are aware and have been making contacts to get them released today. He said it is an issue of activation fault from the Saudi end because the board has secured the NUSUK CARD for 3 of the 4 pilgrims arrested.
“Ours is to ensure that we got the card from the Saudi service provider and distributed it to our pilgrims and the process is ongoing. 3 of the 4 arrested have their NUSUK and the remaining one will collect his own today. We also embark on sensitization in here in Makkah telling them to always be with their NUSUK Card.
Another pilgrim told HAJJ REPORTERS that FCT officials had earlier asked those who are yet to get their NUSUK to come by 4pm today and collect it.
Another source told HAJJ REPORTERS that those arrested didn’t go out with their Hajj visa or NUSUK Card as advised by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board and NAHCON.
Further inquiry revealed that 3 of the arrested pilgrims has a NUSUK CARD with one of them has an ID number 6119379260 but shown no information when the card was scanned by the Saudi Civil defense force. They said the CARD had not been activated and therefore arrested them.
However, a highly placed source said they have been released to NAHCON and are now in Makkah. This is yet to be confirmed
It will be recalled that NAHCON and Saudi Arabia Hajj authority have embarked on an enlightenment campaign informing Nigerian pilgrims to always wear their NUSUK CARD to prevent being arrested as the Kingdom is seriously tackling the issue of illegal pilgrims which has become a serious challenge.
