KWARA CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS RETURN SAFELY AFTER ISRAEL, JORDAN SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Christian pilgrims from Kwara State have returned safely to Nigeria after completing a spiritual pilgrimage to sacred sites in Jordan and Israel.
Their arrival was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Press Secretary of the Kwara State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bola Sadiq, and sighted by HOTJIST in Ilorin.
According to the statement, the pilgrims departed Nigeria on February 11, 2026, and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 5:29 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, successfully concluding the spiritual exercise without incident.
They were formally welcomed the following day by officials of the Board alongside family members amid thanksgiving and celebrations.
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Christian Matters, Rev. Timothy Oluwagbemiga Akangbe, described the pilgrimage as smooth and hitch-free.
“We give all glory to God for granting us journey mercies and for ensuring that the pilgrimage was successful and peaceful,” he said.
Rev. Akangbe noted that although weather conditions in the Middle East differed from those in Nigeria, they remained bearable, while he commended the pilgrims for their cooperation and discipline throughout the exercise.
“The pilgrims conducted themselves admirably. There was unity, orderliness, and cooperation from start to finish,” he added.
He urged participants to reflect the spiritual lessons gained during the pilgrimage in their daily lives and contribute positively to society.
The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was also commended for his support toward the success of the pilgrimage.
“We appreciate His Excellency for his steadfast commitment and support from the planning stage to the successful completion of the pilgrimage,” Akangbe said, while praying for increased wisdom and strength for the governor.
In his remarks, the Board Chairman, Prof. Timothy Oloyede Opoola, described the exercise as a spiritually refreshing experience for the pilgrims.
“There were no emergencies and no cases of abscondment. This speaks to the high level of responsibility displayed by our pilgrims and the adequate preparation by the Board,” Opoola stated.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Ajayi Samuel Bayo, disclosed that all 67 pilgrims returned safely, describing the journey as transformative and spiritually enriching.
Some of the returnees expressed gratitude to God and commended the state government for what they described as “seamless arrangements.”
The state government had earlier, on February 14, announced the safe arrival of its Christian pilgrims in Jordan for the commencement of the 2025 pilgrimage exercise, which also featured visits to sacred sites in Israel.
The pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan is a faith-based spiritual exercise undertaken by Christians to visit significant biblical locations associated with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and other events recorded in the Bible.
Our correspondent reports that the exercise is aimed at deepening participants’ faith, strengthening their spiritual commitment, and offering them the opportunity to experience firsthand the historical and religious heritage of the Holy Land.
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