Two female intending pilgrims in Katsina State had their dream of performing this year’s pilgrimage, scuttled, as a test conducted on them indicated they were pregnant.
Alhaji Muhammad Abu-Rimi, Executive Director of Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, told newsmen on Wednesday that the pilgrims were discovered to be pregnant as they were about to depart for Saudi Arabia.
He said that sequel to the discovery, they were prevented from traveling to the Holyland.
‘’The day these two female intending pilgrims were to be transported to the Holy land, we conducted a pregnancy test on them, which indicated positive, meaning that they are pregnant.
‘’We want people to know that the reasons for preventing pregnant women from going for Hajj, is to save them and what is in their womb from suffering,’’ he said.
He also said that the airlift of the intending pilgrims to the Holy land was going on smoothly as over 2,072 pilgrims had already been transported.
‘’The problems we normally encounter is issuance of visas; now, Saudi Arabian authorities have simplified the process because we print it here; we do not need to go anywhere to get it,’’ he said.
He urged pilgrims to abide by the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia governing the conduct of the pilgrimage.
Abu-Rimi further urged the pilgrims to desist from spreading rumour, as the Board was committed to enhancing pilgrims’ welfare.
