Nigerian Pilgrim Accused of Theft At The Holy Mosque In Saudi Arabia

A Nigerian pilgrim is currently being investigated for trying to pick up a lost item during the circumambulation ((Tawaf) of the Ka’aba at the Holy Mosque.

The pilgrim who was said to have found the lost amount of money on the floor at the Holy Mosque was trying to pick the item up when some pilgrims raised alarm accusing him of being a pick-pocket.

Daily Trust reports that police officers around the Masjid picked the Sokoto state pilgrim whose name could not be ascertain as at press time.

The suspect was later detained after his attempt to exonerate himself proved abortive because of the language barrier.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it is still discussing with the Saudi authority on how they can free the pilgrim who is still in their custody, adding that the host country had promised to free the pilgrim earlier to enable him perform the hajj rites.

Daily Trust learnt that it was not possible as the arrested pilgrim is still in detention, two days after end of hajj rites.

Chairman of the commission, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar therefore urged Nigerian pilgrims to avoid picking anything found at the Holy Mosque to avoid the repeat of the case yet to be resolved.