Twenty-five Nigerians ostensibly in Saudi Arabia to perform this
year's Haj have been arrested over theft. The thieves, whose identities
were not disclosed, “all with prior criminal records, have been arrested
in Makkah,” according to Saudi Gazette, quoting Makkah Police spokesman
Lt. Col. Abdul Mohsin Al-Maiman.
“The thieves robbed pilgrims inside the
Grand Mosque and broke into several shops and houses in Makkah. Several
members of the gang were nabbed red-handed and they guided the police
to other members who have been hiding in a vintage building on
Al-Mansour St. 80 cellular phones and over SR50,000 in currency was
seized,” the report said.
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About 1.38 million pilgrims from Nigeria and
117 other countries are performing the Haj this season, according to
Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee
Prince Muhammad Bin Naif.Saudi Gazette quoted Prince Muhammad as saying
that of the 1,379,531 foreign pilgrims, 752,424 were men representing 55
percent and 627,107 women forming 45 percent.
“The amount of foreign
pilgrims this season was less by 377,439 (21 percent) in comparison to
this past year,” the paper said.
“The amount of pilgrims who arrived by
air was over 1.29 million. Over 72,000 pilgrims arrived here by sea and
14,898 by land,” it added.
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