The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has initiated a probe into an incident where some pilgrims from the state were allegedly defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance during the recently concluded Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Executive Secretary of the board, Abdul Salam Abdulkadir, the board confirmed that investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the fraudulent act.
Abdulkadir said the incident, which occurred in Saudi Arabia, involved criminals taking advantage of the goodwill and vulnerability of the pilgrims.
The board, he noted, strongly condemned the exploitation and urged the public to provide credible information that could aid the investigation.
“Every pilgrim was given their $500 BTA in five $100 bills in the public space and under the supervision of officials of the Directorate of State Security who ensured that the currency was original,” he stated.
“Each pilgrim signed for the collection of their BTA after counting it in the presence of pilgrims’ board officials and the DSS.”
Reacting to a viral video in which some pilgrims claimed they received one-dollar bills instead of $100 notes, the board’s preliminary findings suggest that the incident happened after their arrival in Medina.
“In several cases, the affected individuals, mostly elderly and not familiar with foreign currencies, had sought help from strangers to convert their funds into Saudi Riyals,” he said.
Abdulkadir explained that the fraudsters exploited the pilgrims’ unfamiliarity with the currency by swapping $100 bills with $1 bills under the pretense of helping with currency exchange.
To cushion the effect of the loss, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stepped in with financial support, offering each affected pilgrim $500 to make up for the stolen allowance.
The board appreciated the governor’s prompt and compassionate gesture.
“The Governor visited the Kwara pilgrims’ hotel in Mecca during which he extended financial support to all pilgrims to support their local expenses,” the secretary added.
Highlighting that similar scams were reported among pilgrims from other Nigerian states, Abdulkadir endorsed a proposed policy shift by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“We support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposal to replace cash disbursements of BTA with preloaded debit cards. This will enhance transparency, reduce the risk of theft or fraud, and ensure that all pilgrims, especially the elderly, can manage their funds more securely,” the statement stated.
