Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State who were denied entry into Israel have commenced a guided tour of cities in Jordan.
The affected individuals are part of the first batch of 295 pilgrims from the state participating in the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage.
Although they travelled with the group, they were reportedly issued visas valid only for Jordan and were prevented from crossing into Israel, a key destination for Christian pilgrims seeking to visit sites associated with the birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, explained that the full visa list was received shortly before the pilgrims’ orientation and farewell ceremony, leaving little room to address discrepancies.
He said the development came as a major disappointment, noting that many Christians consider Israel central to their spiritual journey.
According to him, if the visa restrictions had been known earlier, the affected pilgrims could have chosen either to remain in Jordan or cancel their trip.
Rev. Bagu, however, described visa denials as a common occurrence in international travel, citing similar experiences with applications to countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
He disclosed that the Israeli embassy had notified Jordanian authorities about the situation, ensuring that the five pilgrims were properly accommodated.
Jordanian officials, he said, arranged hotel lodging, meals, transportation, and tour guides for the group.
The pilgrims are expected to visit notable biblical and historical sites in Jordan while awaiting the completion of the Israel leg of the pilgrimage by the rest of the contingent.
The first batch was initially projected to consist of 300 pilgrims, but 295 eventually travelled. Rev. Bagu added that the Board has scheduled three batches for the 2026 exercise.
It submitted 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for the second batch, with at least 350 pilgrims expected to depart on March 5, 2026.
The third batch is also projected to include about 350 pilgrims, although its departure date has yet to be announced.
In total, Plateau State applied for approximately 1,100 pilgrimage slots, in addition to 13 carried over from the previous year, bringing the overall figure to nearly 1,120.
Addressing concerns over alleged cost increases, Rev. Bagu clarified that the state government had not raised its sponsorship contribution.
He attributed the higher overall expenses to fluctuations in the exchange rate, a challenge previously encountered during Muslim Hajj operations.
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which have further complicated regional travel and security arrangements.
