Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State have been denied entry into Israel after arriving in Jordan for the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage, sparking disappointment among members of the delegation.
The affected pilgrims are part of the first batch of 295 participants out of the 300 initially scheduled to travel. Although they secured visas, the permits were valid only for Jordan, preventing them from crossing into Israel, a key destination for Christians visiting sites linked to the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Wanson Yusufu Bagu, disclosed this to reporters on Thursday. He explained that the full visa list was received late last week, shortly before the orientation and farewell programme, leaving no time to resolve discrepancies.
According to him, had the issue been identified earlier, the affected pilgrims could have chosen to remain in Jordan or cancel their trip. He described the development as painful and unexpected, noting that Israel holds deep spiritual significance for Christians worldwide.
Despite the setback, the five pilgrims are being accommodated in Jordan with hotel lodging, meals, transportation, and tour guides. They are currently visiting major biblical and historical sites while awaiting the return of the rest of the group from Israel. The entire batch will return home together after completing the pilgrimage.
Plateau State had requested about 1100 slots for the 2026 pilgrimage, with around 800 pilgrims screened so far. The second batch of at least 350 pilgrims is scheduled to depart on March 5 2026, while a third batch of similar size will follow later.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, urged the pilgrims to serve as worthy ambassadors and pray for Nigeria and its leaders.
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