As Nigerian and Saudi authorities continue to bicker over the detention of Nigerian women in that country, reports reaching us say the Saudi authorities have begun deporting the detained female hajj pilgrims.

The first batch of 71 women from Katsina and Taraba States have already been deported and arrived the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (MAKIA) this evening.

The pilgrims arrived the airport aboard a Max Air aircraft with registration number 5N MM at about 4.58 pm.

Four hundred female pilgrims from Nigeria, who arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj, were on Sunday separated from their male counterparts and detained by Saudi authorities for failing to provide her Muharram that is, the approved male companion accompanying her on her trip, usually a husband, father or brother.

There are reports that the number of detained women had risen to 1000 but that could not be independently verified by this newspaper.

The matter has sparked a fierce diplomatic row between the two countries, with the foreign ministers of the two countries unable to resolve the logjam.

acidosis™:
You need to see the face of Sambo some minutes ago on nta while addressing the saudi ambassador to Nigeria.. The terrible look gives the impression like his whole life depends on hajj.. as if he was gonna die if they eventually deport ALL ..

I think if more muslims and christians are been deported like this, we would learn to stop wasting our money on religious infrastructures all in the name of TITLES (as in JP, and Alhaji).

Dygeasy: Its crazy... No man to accompany! Very funny people. Last time I checked, hajj is to serve God and to observe one of the five pillars of islam. The only condition Allah (SWT) stated is "if you have the power and the road or route is good, you must perform hajj" when then did having a male to accompany you become a prerequisite for hajj. Abegi make we start our own hajj jor for naija jor.... Arabians too dey vex me

Femmymata2: Deported from holy land, but they can still claim alhaja. I wish we've our own holy land 4 naija, where that one go be hmmm

acidosis™:
You need to see the face of Sambo some minutes ago on nta while addressing the saudi ambassador to Nigeria.. The terrible look gives the impression like his whole life depends on hajj.. as if he was gonna die if they eventually deport ALL ..

I think if more muslims and christians are been deported like this, we would learn to stop wasting our money on religious infrastructures all in the name of TITLES (as in JP, and Alhaji).

Femmymata2: Deported from holy land, but they can still claim alhaja. I wish we've our own holy land 4 naija, where that one go be hmmm