Six pregnant women from Sokoto State have been prevented from performing this year's pilgrimage.

Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor on Pilgrims Affairs, announced this yesterday.

He said the women were found to be carrying five-month-old pregnancies, and could therefore not be allowed by law, to perform the pilgrimage.

Maigwandu said that the women were detected by members of the medical team, headed by Dr Abdulahi Gada.

"When they are delivered of their babies, they may be able to travel to the Holy land during the next Hajj exercise," he said.

The Special Adviser also said two pilgrims from Tambuwal Local Government Area in the state were deported by the Saudi authorities, as a result of a "mix up" in their passports.

"The information on their passports contradicted their photographs. They will, however, be transported back to the Holy land when the discrepancies on their visas are rectified at the Saudi Consulate in Kano ," he said.

He expressed satisfaction with the on-going transportation of intending pilgrims from the state, adding that no fewer than 3,000 intending pilgrims had so far been transported to Saudi.