Yobe begins airlift of hajj pilgrims

Hajj Pilgrims

The first batch of pilgrims for the 2010 Muslim pilgrimage from Yobe State have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia, the Maiduguri Zonal Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), comprising Borno and Yobe States, Umar Mohammed Kalgo has said.

Kalgo who confirmed the commencement of airlift to our correspondent yesterday, said 288 pilgrims took off early yesterday from the Maiduguri International Airport.

He said the second flight, which was expected to take off today around 7am would convey additional 300 pilgrims from Yobe, leaving be-hind 1,709 pilgrims out of the total of 2,297 pilgrims from Yobe who would be undertaking this year’s pilgrimage who are expected to be airlifted in 10 batches.

Officials of Medview Airlines, this year’s carrier for Yobe, said they were not expecting any hitches as an additional airplane was on ground for the airlift.

Daily Trust learnt that airlift of pilgrims from Borno is scheduled to commence on October 26, 2010 by Max Airline.