WE WILL ARREST GUARANTORS OF ABSCONDED PILGRIMS — NCPC

REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, says it will arrest and prosecute guarantors of pilgrims who abscond while on pilgrimage to the holy land.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, the Reverend Yakubu Pam, handed down the warning in Owerri at a ceremony to commence the 2023 pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.

The Reverend Pam, while addressing the first batch of 1,000 intending pilgrims from Imo State, explained that the Commission had, since his assumption to duty more than two years ago, mapped out strategies to check incidences of pilgrims absconding from the holy land.

He commended the Imo State Government for making history by sponsoring 1,000 people to Israel and Jordan, noting that prayers offered during pilgrimage not only brings people closer to God but has continued to promote national unity.

The Governor of Imo State, Chief Hope Uzodimma, said the state would bankroll all expenses that would be incurred by the pilgrims, explaining that the decision was in line with his vow to support evangelism.

While charging the intending pilgrims to be of good conduct and pray for lasting peace in the state, Governor Uzodimma appealed to them to also pray for President Muhammadu Buhari, who, he said, was behind infrastructural revolution in the state.

The Chairman Imo State Pilgrim Welfare Board, the Rev. Fr. Gilbert Alaribe, said the state government had not sponsored any pilgrim to the holy land since 2014, pointing out that less privileged persons from the rural areas made the list of the intending pilgrims in line with the directive of the Governor.

An intending pilgrim, Mr. Osita Nwaneri, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed gratitude to the government and promised to pray for the state and the country at large.

300 intending pilgrims, who constituted the first batch, later left for Portharcourt International Airport where they were airlifted to the holy land.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU