Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has advised Christian pilgrims in the state to refrain from traveling to Israel for the holy pilgrimage due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The region has seen warfare between Israel and several Arab nations, resulting in numerous casualties.
Bago made this announcement on Sunday during the 2024 state Christmas Carol, organized by the state government in collaboration with the local chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria at the Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Hall in Minna. He urged Christian faithful to exercise patience regarding this year’s pilgrimage, citing “the lack of peace in the Holy Land.”
He stated, “Allowing pilgrims to travel there would be equivalent to signing their death warrants,” emphasizing that the current situation in the Middle East poses a serious threat to the safety of pilgrims. Represented by the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Afiniki Dauda, Bago expressed his unwillingness to authorize a trip that could endanger the lives of Christian pilgrims, asserting, “The safety of our citizens is paramount, and we will not compromise on that.”
During the event, Rev. Bulus Yohanna, chairman of the state chapter of CAN, appealed to the governor to consider alternative pilgrimage destinations such as Jordan, Turkey, or Rome, noting available opportunities at the federal level for prospective pilgrims. He also encouraged Christians in the state to pray for the governor and to show love and generosity to others.