The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed sadness over the medical breach by a Zamfara pilgrim who scaled pregnancy screening to the holy land and gave birth.
The Commissioner Planning, Research and Information of the Commission, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, who made this known in Madina, said NAHCON would engage the state handlers to ensure diligence in screening pilgrims, particularly females, to safeguard their lives and that of the foetus.
He said state pilgrim welfare boards or the commission should not be entirely blamed for the action of the erring pilgrim.
“Though I was not holding a brief for any state pilgrims board, nonetheless other factors, or variables could result in such breaches,” he said.
Yagawal said officials of the commission would continue to educate pilgrims on precautions to be taken against extortionists and swindlers, particularly in Madinah.
“It’s disheartening and disgusting for a Muslim to be brazenly heartless as to commit these atrocities in the holy land.
“We would continue to educate the pilgrims on how to avoid these cheats, swindlers and extortionists by ensuring that they are discreet when it comes to their Basic Traveling Allowance, BTA, Hadaya and gold or silver teething,” he said.
