Fake Visa: Seven Intending Nigerian Pilgrims Deported From Saudi Arabia

Seven intending pilgrims from Kano State who left for Jidda on Thursday, July 7 have been deported by Saudi Arabian authorities.

While two of the deported intending pilgrims were from the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, the other five had travelled to Saudi Arabia for the hajj through tour companies after presenting fraudulent visas.

According to Dahiru Yau Musa, one of the deported pilgrims, Quraish Travel Agency provided him with his visa, while Mafimishkila Travel & Tours provided for the other four.

He claimed that until they arrived at King Abdulazeez Airport, they were unaware that their visas were been faked.

He said, “We were in the queue with other pilgrims and when it was my turn, they directed me to stay behind. It was when they finished the screening of other pilgrims, they told me about the fake visa.

“They spoke with NAHCON officials. It took them some time trying to resolve the issue but all to no avail. At the end, we were told that we were being taken back to Nigeria. And the rest is history now.

“It was really a sad experience. I couldn’t believe it will happen to me. You know as a Muslim to see yourself there (Holy Land) and you were taken back to your country is not something easy to comprehend.”

Musa vowed to file a lawsuit against the travel agency.

He said, “Since I returned, my tour operator was looking for me to meet with me, but I am avoiding him because I don’t want to hear anything from him until we get to the court.

“Again I will take the issue to Saudi Consulate here so that I can be cleared for future travel.”

Alhaji Muhammad Abba Danbatta, the executive secretary of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, who also verified the deportation, claimed that the two deported pilgrims were not members of the group but had been snuck onto the list by a staff member.

The staff member will be subject to the full weight of the law, Danbatta said, adding that the matter had been referred to the appropriate authorities for further inquiry.

He said, “When I heard the incident around 2:00 am, I rushed to the airport and met with the two pilgrims one female and a male who claimed to be from our Sumaila centre.

“I called the Sumaila centre officer but he doesn’t know them and they did not know him. It was when we carried out a thorough investigation we found out that the two pilgrims were deceived by one of our staff members by name Abdurrahman. He issued fake visas as well as receipts to them.

“As I am talking to you now we are yet to meet with the accused staff as he couldn’t be reached on his mobile phone.

“But the case has been handed over to the Immigration for further investigation. I am assuring you that if he is found guilty he will definitely face the wrath of law accordingly.”