On his return from Israel three years after, the pilgrim was immediately intercepted by DSS operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a pilgrim Ezekiel Olajire who absconded during pilgrimage to Israel in 2019.
Mr Olajiire Ezekiel was arrested on May 6, 2022 on his return to Nigeria.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Yakubu Pam met with Olajire and warned that the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land is not for people to abscond from Nigeria, but get closer to God.
According to a statement on Thursday by Celestine Toruka, Head of Media and Public Relations at NCPC, Pam warned that the commission would not condone any attempt to use its platform to tarnish the image of Nigeria.
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Pam assured that the commission had taken new measures to prevent pilgrims from absconding.
“All steps are being taken by the commission to stop this monster,” he added.
He commended security operatives, especially the DSS, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and NCPC officials for their coordinated efforts in arresting the abscondee on his return from Israel.
Olajire was among the six pilgrims who absconded in Israel during the 2019 Easter Pilgrimage.
The NCPC forwarded their details to the DSS to be placed on its watch list.
He was immediately intercepted by the operatives of the DSS at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and detained.
His guarantor was made to pay $5,000 as bond for his bail.
“NCPC will stop at nothing to achieve zero abscondment of pilgrims, the case of Mr Olajiire Ezekiel should serve as a deterrent to others.
“It is also instructive to state that every absconded pilgrim will be fished out by the security operatives on arrival in Nigeria no matter how long the pilgrim stays,” Pam said.