Plateau Hajj Board Denies Killing Of 9 Pilgrims In Mangu

• The Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has refuted reports that nine pilgrims were killed while returning to their communities in Shedam LGA
• The board’s spokesperson, Namu Sanusi, said that all 1,500 pilgrims from the state had arrived safely in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and were on their way to their various destinations
• Sanusi said that the board deeply investigated the issue and found no evidence that any pilgrims had been killed

The Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has refuted reports that nine pilgrims were killed while returning to their communities in Shedam LGA after performing this year’s Hajj on the Mangu-Shendam road.

The killing occurred during a period of crisis in Mangu LGA, in which hundreds of people were killed.

Last week, social media handles were flooded with reports of pilgrims being killed, a situation that drew condemnation from users.

The board’s spokesperson, Namu Sanusi said that all 1,500 pilgrims from the state had arrived safely in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and were on their way to their various destinations.

He said;

I called many people in the areas said to have lost their pilgrims but nobody said a pilgrim was killed on the way after arriving Jos.

All we know is that out of the 1,500 pilgrims that went for Hajj from Plateau, two died in Saudi Arabia. Apart from that, nobody died. We deeply investigated the issue and no one was killed.

He, therefore, called on the people in the state to discard the story.

Father arrested for planning to use son for money ritual

50-year-old Beninoir father, Pome Banda, has been apprehended for planning to use his son for a money ritual, the police in Lagos have said.

He was arrested alongside three others.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Ari Mohammed, made the disclosure to journalists in Lagos.

According to NAN, they allegedly lured the nine-year-old boy from the Benin Republic for a sinister motive.

Mohammed said in the process of their plans, Zone 2 Criminal Investigation Department got information about them, and the police acted as the herbalist who wanted to help them to use the boy for a money ritual.

He said the operatives started discussing with the boy’s father, his brother living in Nigeria, one Benjamin Balobi, and two Nigerians – Segun Shile and Ige Koshelu.