Over 50 Yobe pilgrims likely to miss Hajj

Over 50 intending pilgrims are likely to miss this year’s Hajj pilgrimage due to failure of the fare collectors to remit their deposits to Yobe State Pilgrims Commission. Daily Trust investigation revealed that the affected pilgrims are mostly from Potiskum local government where the fare collectors could not account for the deposit of 41 people, […]

Over 50 intending pilgrims are likely to miss this year’s Hajj pilgrimage due to failure of the fare collectors to remit their deposits to Yobe State Pilgrims Commission.

Daily Trust investigation revealed that the affected pilgrims are mostly from Potiskum local government where the fare collectors could not account for the deposit of 41 people, and rest from Fika and Damaturu local government areas.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yobe command, DSP Jafiya Zubairu, confirmed that the case was reported and investigation is on.

"Some of the people involved are with the CID, l cannot give their names or the exact number of those involved or other details as investigation is still going on,”, he said.

Our reporter learnt that the people under the police investigation include some local government officials, officials and erstwhile Chairman of the pilgrims commission.

"Most of them used the pilgrims deposits with the intention to refund after getting approvals from government but couldn’t access the fund.

"Now they cannot do anything because it’s already late. even if they refund the money most of this people will not go", a staff of the the pilgrims commission said.

When contacted, chairman of Yobe Pilgrims Commission, Maisanda Lawan said he would not comment on the matter because the money reached the commission.

"It’s between the local government and the fares collectors, so I will not comment on something I don’t have a say,"  he added.

Fielding questions on the possibility of the pilgrims to be considered after the money has been recovered, the chairman said, "To be honest with you, I very much doubt it because VISA issuance will stop soon and 90 percent of our pilgrims are already there. Without the VISA, they cannot travel out.”

However, the 41 intending pilgrims have marched to the state assembly demanding the House Speaker, Rt Hon Adamu Dala Dogo to wade into the matter and liaise with the executive arm of government to find means for  them perform the hajj.

 The speaker assured the intending pilgrims that he would do everything within his power to liaise with the executive and find a solution so that they perform the hajj.

One other victim, Baraden Potiskum said he has paid the deposit of 7 intending pilgrims and none of their money was remitted to the pilgrims commission.

"Please help us announce to the world that we are cheated. Even if these people pay us back our money many of us will not go," he said.

He called on the relevant authorities to intervene and punish the perpetrators appropriately.