After SaharaReporters' Report, Kwara Govt Reimburses Pilgrims Defrauded With $1 Bills During Hajj

The Kwara State Government has reimbursed pilgrims who were defrauded during their Hajj trip to Saudi Arabia, following revelations made in a SaharaReporters’ report.

The report, published on May 25, 2025, featured concerns raised by Professor Imam Abubakr Ali-Agan, an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the University of Ilorin, who exposed how some elderly pilgrims were scammed with $1 bills while trying to convert their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) into Saudi Riyals.

The professor, himself a pilgrim at the time, described how unscrupulous Nigerians swapped high-value notes with $1 bills under the guise of assistance.

Reacting to the public outcry, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board in a statement through Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, the Board's Executive Secretary, clarified that all pilgrims had received their $500 BTA in five $100 bills in full view of board officials and the Department of State Security (DSS), who verified the authenticity of the notes.

“Upon seeing the viral video... our preliminary findings suggest that these incidents likely occurred after the pilgrims had arrived in Medina,” said Abdulkadir.

He confirmed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had “graciously provided for each of the affected pilgrims to be given $500 to offset the losses they incurred,” praising the governor’s “swift and compassionate intervention.”

The governor also visited the pilgrims’ hotel in Mecca, offering financial support to assist with their local expenses.

In a move to prevent future fraud, the Board backed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposal to disburse BTAs via preloaded debit cards, calling it a step that would “enhance transparency” and “reduce the risk of theft or fraud.”

The Board condemned the perpetrators and urged anyone with useful information to help bring the fraudsters to justice.

It said, “In several cases, the affected individuals—mostly elderly and not familiar with foreign currencies— had sought help from strangers to convert their funds into Saudi Riyals. These unscrupulous individuals apparently took advantage of their vulnerability by swapping $100 bills with $1 bills under the guise of assisting them with currency exchange.

“Further investigations are ongoing to expose the criminals behind this evil act.

“In response to this unfortunate development, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has graciously provided for each of the affected pilgrims to be given $500 to offset the losses they incurred. We ask Allaah to reward His Excellency's swift and compassionate intervention.

“With the fraudulent currency swap having been reported among pilgrims from other states of the Federation, we support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposal to replace cash disbursements of BTA with preloaded debit cards.

“This will enhance transparency, reduce the risk of theft or fraud, and ensure that all pilgrims—especially the elderly—can manage their funds more securely.

“We strongly condemn the actions of those who preyed on the goodwill and vulnerability of our pilgrims. We also welcome any credible information that may assist in bringing the culprits to justice.”