No Nigerian pilgrim executed in Saudi —Muslim Media Watch

THE Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has debunked as untrue, the report that three pilgrims arrested among Kwara State pilgrims to this year’s hajj have been executed.

The group, in a statement by Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, its national coordinator, said after its investigation, it found out that the report was false.

The statement said both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and leader of Kwara State delegation to the pilgrimage, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon (retd), denied the report.

According to it, Saudi authorities would never rush any action pertaining to life.

“While not backing or condoning any act capable of tarnishing Nigeria’s good image abroad or in the country, the Muslim Media Watch  Group of Nigeria condemns, in totality, irresponsible social media blackmail sponsored by unpatriotic elements, to create panic and confusion in Nigeria on the unfortunate incident.

“Nigerians would recall that on this same story, the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) had earlier reported about a week ago, that only two pilgrims were arrested and that they had been released, after subjecting what they found on them to critical analysis; and was discovered not to be cocaine. This was given widest publicity in the media, upon which patriotic Nigerians jubilated.

“How come a video that went viral in the last 72 hours in some social media networks came up? This trash that they posted gave impression that the suspects have been beheaded in Saudi-Arabia.

“The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is dedicated to high sense of professionalism in media practice, demand for probe of this embarrassing and damaging report by the Federal Government, to prevent future occurrences.

“While we condemn, in strong terms, violation of any extant laws of any country by Nigerians, we take exception to deliberate falsehood, malicious publication and posts in any media capable of bringing the nation to disrepute,” the statement read.