The Edo Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Monday began orientation for the 2023 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for 2023 Hajj.
The board warned the intending pilgrims to desist from travelling with drugs and other contraband.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Iduoze Muhammed, gave the warning in Benin while addressing the intending pilgrims.
“As you are going to perform Hajj, you should know that you are going to a different clime, where laws are strictly obeyed and as intending pilgrims, you must be ready to obey the local laws.
“For instance, you are not supposed to travel with anything that is contraband, especially illicit drugs.
“If you travel to Saudi Arabia with drugs and you are caught, the penalty is death, no matter how highly placed you are,” he said.
The board’s scribe explained that the sensitization was part of the series of events lined up to educate the intending pilgrims on what to do to get the benefit of the Hajj.
The event, he said, was simultaneously holding in Benin and Auchi axis of the state.
“The goal of the program is to ensure that the pilgrims are adequately equipped with the rudiments of the Hajj and are given the right education on the proper things to do in order to get the full benefit of the Hajj,” he said.
On his part, the Guest Lecturer, Mallam Umar Harun, charged the Muslims to be disciplined while in the holy land as they are going there for prayers.
Harun also enjoined them never to take what does not belong to them and report to the appropriate authority whenever they find something on ground.
“With this program, we have equipped the intending pilgrims on what to do during Hajj. They should be mindful of their phones as it would distract them from reaping the full benefit of Hajj”.
Responding, one of the pilgrims, Alhaji Anesi Musa, said the program was very rewarding to them and commended the state government as well as the board for organizing the program.
