Intending Kwara pilgrims protest after aircraft malfunction delays Hajj journey

Over 200 intending pilgrims from Kwara State protested on Friday at Ilorin International Airport due to a delayed flight caused by an aircraft malfunction.

These pilgrims, along with officials from the State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the 2024 state Amirul Hajj, had boarded the aircraft on Thursday, only to face an indefinite delay.

The aircraft reportedly developed a technical fault, and despite engineers from the Federal Airport Authority making efforts to repair it since Thursday, the issue remained unresolved.

Frustrated by the delay, some intending Kwara pilgrims took their protest to the highway linking the airport to other communities, voicing their displeasure and singing solidarity songs.

Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, the state’s 2024 Amirul Hajj, attributed the delay to the aircraft’s technical problems.

He explained that the pilgrims had been on board since Thursday but could not depart due to the malfunction.

Oloriegbe assured the pilgrims that another aircraft was being dispatched from Medina to transport them and urged them to remain patient.

“We are expecting another aircraft from Medina to transport the intending pilgrims and the officials. We are doing everything possible to ensure their comfort while they wait,” said Oloriegbe.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria is reportedly addressing the situation, and the board continues to provide meals and accommodations for the stranded pilgrims.

Kwara pilgrims protest highlights the challenges and uncertainties faced by intending pilgrims, emphasizing the need for efficient logistics and communication in organizing large-scale pilgrimages.