Another batch of five hundred and thirty-one Muslim pilgrims from Jigawa had returned to the country after hajj in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The pilgrims, which was the third batch, arrived at Dutse International Airport at 4:52 p.m. aboard a Max aircraft.

Malam Muhammad Abdullahi, an official of the Federal Airport, confirmed the arrival of the pilgrims to NAN.

The pilgrims were among the 2,374 pilgrims transported from the state for this year’s hajj.

It will be recalled that Kabo Air Ltd, had on Monday, Oct. 5, transported 255 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to the state, while Max Air brought 518 pilgrims at 5:42 p.m. the same day.

Some of the pilgrims who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the airport commended the officials for taking good care of them while in Saudi Arabia.

A pilgrim, Hadiza Abdullahi, from Babura Local Government Area, said they were provided with very good accommodation.

According to her, each pilgrim received a stipend of 200 Riyals (about N14,000) from the state government.

Another pilgrim, Alhaji Bashir, from Kazaure Local Government Area, told NAN that they were taken very good care of by the officials of state Pilgrims Welfare Board.

Also speaking, the state Amirul Hajj, who is also the Deputy Governor in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, confirmed that seventy per cent of the state pilgrims had returned to Nigeria.

Hassan said the last batch of the pilgrims were expected to depart Saudi Arabia in Oct. 9, aboard Kabo Air in two batches.

He commended the pilgrims for conducting themselves responsibly while in the holy land.

(NAN)