Saka Ibrahim
21 January 2004
Gombe — No fewer than 1,884 Muslims from Gombe State would perform this year's hajj, just as the state Pilgrims Welfare Board has warned the pilgrims of the danger of carrying hard drugs.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Saidu Ahmed Alkali in an interview with THISDAY yesterday, said the Saudi Authority has threatened to deal decisively with pilgrims caught with hard drugs.
Alkali advised the intending pilgrims not to carry other peoples' luggage inorder not to be implicated in drug trafficking.
Said Alkali "I will appeal to the intending pilgrims not to carry hard drugs to the holy land.
The Saudi authorities are very strict on this. I will also advise them not to carry other pilgrims' bags especially at the airport no matter how close they are inorder not to be implicated."
He advised the intending pilgrims not to entertain any fear about accommodation and transportation in Saudi Arabia, adding that the board agents are already in the holyland.
Alkali, who revealed that only two pregnant women were dropped this year, confirmed that the Gombe intending pilgrims would be airlifted last after those of Adamawa and Taraba States.
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