By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
As the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board of the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) prepares for the next phase of pilgrimage to the holy land, it said the noose has been tightened to ensure that all pilgrims that embarked on pilgrimage on its platform were accounted for, without any record of abscondment.
The Director of the Board, Dabara Audu Vingo in a chat said the Board has among other measures, engaged the services of several security operatives who mount intelligence surveillance on the pilgrims at all points.
He noted that the Board employed the new measures to prevent human trafficking and other illegalities which some pilgrims indulge in.
The Director stated cases of abscondment has been drastically reduced, and the Board has had peaceful pilgrimage processes.
Vingo also clarified that measures have been put in place to prevent Pilgrims from attempting any actions, that are capable of bringing the administration and country to disrepute.
The Director disclosed said the watertight arrangements would
According to him, ” this last pilgrimage was very successful. We went and came back with same numbers of Pilgrims.
” We achieved this through our pilgrimage activities. Even if you have the money and we give you the package cost , we don’t just accept your money and allow you to go. We subject all intending Pilgrims to rigorous screening.
” Once an intending Pilgrim submits their filled forms, we start screening to determine their intents , even in their absence.
” We have operatives from the Department of State Security ( DSS) the Police, Civil Defense, the Immigration and other relevant agencies that will investigate the persons”.