Saudi Arabia deports another 510 female pilgrims to Nigeria

Saudi Arabia on Thursday deported another batch of 510 female prospective pilgrims to Nigeria.
The pilgrims, majority of who were from Kano and Jigawa states, arrived through Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at 8.13 p.m. aboard a Meridian Airline aircraft.
There were also some women from Sokoto and Zamfara states in the flight.
An official of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 200 of the women were from Kano State and 300 from Jigawa.
Some of the women said they spent between four and five days at Jedda airport on the floor without food.
“This is the most dehumanizing situation I have ever experienced in my life,” one of the women said.
Another, Binta Malami, said she traveled with her husband but was denied entry to Saudi Arabia because his name did not correspond with the name written in her passport.
Alhaji Musa Sayyadi, the only male pilgrim among the deportees, said he decided to return with his wife because of the inhuman treatment meted out to the women at the airport.
Alhaji Najib Adamu, the Amirul Hajj of Jigawa and Emir of Kazaure, and Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, were at the airport to receive the deportees.