24th September, 2012
The Lagos State Government has vowed to deal with any pilgrim who misbehaved in Saudi Arabia during next month’s hajj operation.
The government has set up a special taskforce made up of officials of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Chief Security Officer, CSO of the state and other Governor’s Monitoring Team officials, among others to monitor Lagos pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and deal with erring ones.
Speaking on Sunday at a one-day seminar for the 3,885 intending pilgrims from Lagos State, at the Lagos State Television Ground, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole said government would not tolerate any form of indiscipline from any Lagos pilgrim.
“Any pilgrim who misbehaves will be dealt with. We also have a tribunal in place to try erring pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that during the last hajj, a pilgrim who misbehaved was prosecuted in Lagos after the hajj.
Danmole advised pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria as well as the state, saying; “You must behave and conduct yourself in orderly manner. You should not fight. Lagos State is taking proper care of its pilgrims.”
Chairman, Hajj Ad-hoc Committee, Alhaji Abdullateef Abdulhakeem said government had adequately prepared to ensure hitch-free hajj as it had organised seminar to enlighten intending pilgrims on the basic rules of hajj.
“We have engaged the services of a separate airline to convey our pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. We will not be using the same airline with other pilgrims in the Southwest. We have also decided not to keep our pilgrims longer in Saudi Arabia after the hajj.
“We have organised the various local governments in groups and appointed somebody to be in charge. We have fortified our security team by ensuring that there will be orderliness of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” he said.