Over 500 Muslim faithful hoping to visit the holy land, Mecca, may have been swindled by an unnamed agent who refused to show up at the airport on the set departure date, leaving the intending pilgrims stranded.
The passengers who planned to attend this year’s Hajj in Mecca in Saudi Arabia and are now stranded at the departure wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
One of the victims, Wulaimot Adisa, told Channels Television that the agent had initially introduced his company by the name Spotlight Concept International. However, his identity card had a different name.
“He gave us an ID card of Obinja Hajj and Umrah Services,” she said.
She further disclosed that the suspected fraudster had informed them that they would depart on the 2nd of October but later postponed it till the 5th and again till the 7th.
The pilgrims who arrived at the airport on the 7th have been sleeping in the premises and are yet to travel as the said agent has not been found.
The agent has not been responding to calls or text messages.
Adisa disclosed that she had paid N700,000 to the agent while other pilgrims had paid varying amounts including N1.2 million and N1.4 million.
The pilgrims’ traveling passports are also in the agent’s possession.
