3 Lagos Pilgrims Abscond In Jerusalem
By Akin Omo Akin, Lagos
Three pilgrims from Lagos State who went for this year’s pilgrimage in Jerusalem, Israel have absconded in the holy land.
Our correspondent gathered that the absconded pilgrims include one female and two male.
A pilgrim in Jerusalem who spoke on condition of anonymity said the female pilgrim was the first to abscond few days after arriving the holy land for spiritual exercise.
It was also learnt that one other male pilgrim also absconded few days after the female pilgrim was declared missing, while the last one ran away shortly after the thanksgiving service held to mark the departure of the pilgrims from Jerusalem back to Nigeria two days ago.
According to the,” immediately after the thanksgiving service, it was discovered that the pilgrim, a middle-age man was missing and he never returned.”
These current cases of pilgrims said to have absconded after getting to Jerusalem soared the number of pilgrims using the exercise as the easiest means of getting to Europe and other parts of the world.
Available statistics showed that in 2013, two Lagos pilgrims absconded during the exercise. One was caught while the other was never seen again until the remaining pilgrims left Jerusalem.
The same scenario played out in subsequent years.
Investigation reveals that Jerusalem is a place where immigrants could easily escape to Europe to seek greener pasture, thus, some pilgrims hide under religious ritual to escape to Europe during pilgrimage.
Meantime, Nigeria pilgrims observing this year pilgrimage exercise in Jerusalem have been urged to use the experience to impact the nation positively.
Federal commissioner, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mrs Helen Ohoro who gave the charge at the Jerusalem pilgrimage party, organised for pilgrims from Lagos State in Jerusalem, saying that the responsibility to transform the nation lied on Christians.
“As you go back we expect that what you have gained will not be lost. We believe that the pilgrims can turn Nigerians around. A spirit-filled Christian does not need supervision to do the right thing,” she said.
She urged them to impact positively on others and let the light of God shine through them.
