Nation
10,000 To Perform Christian Pilgrimage
The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) expects that at least 10,000 faithful will go on pilgrimage from Nigeria in 2022.
The 2022 pilgrimage begins in Nigeria from May 31 when the faithful will travel to Israel and Jordan.
NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam, made these disclosures on Saturday in Yola when he inspected facilities at the Yola International Airport, one of the take-off points for the pilgrims.
“I’m in Yola to inspect the facilities at the airport as part of preparations for the 2022 holy trip to Israel and Jordan.
“From what I have seen, I am highly impressed that the management of the airport is ready for the exercise.
“We are going to start taking pilgrims to Israel and Jordan from May 31. They will spend five days in Israel and three days in Jordan,’’ Pam said.
He explained that the Yola International Airport would serve about 400 pilgrims from Adamawa and Taraba.
He noted that the visit to Jordan was added because, that was where John the Baptist, baptised Jesus Christ and it was a place where Moses also died.
“Jordan is also a place from where Elijah ascended to heaven alive,’’ Pam said.
He expressed delight that Adamawa government had been giving the commission maximum cooperation.
In his remarks, Dali Jackson, the airport’s Chief of Security, said that its management was ready for the exercise.
“The Federal Airport Authority is ready and Yola International Airport is ready for the pilgrims’ flights,” he said.
Jackson represented the Airport Manager, Malam Dan Musa, when Pam visited.
The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi, has granted bail to 91 inmates.
He also completely discharged four others during the first-quarter jail delivery exercise for 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Justice Danladi explained that the Sub-Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres carefully assessed the cases before recommending the inmates for release.
Factors considered included age, length of time spent in custody, and medical conditions.
He further announced that going forward, the personal details and photographs of released inmates would be officially recorded to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
Addressing the freed individuals, he urged them to stay on the right side of the law, emphasising that another chance at clemency might not be available if they reoffend.
The Katsina State Controller of Corrections, CC Umar Baba, praised the initiative, stating that such interventions ease congestion, improve prison conditions, and support rehabilitation efforts.
He also called on judges and magistrates to consider alternative sentencing options to prevent unnecessary detentions and allow correctional facilities to focus on reforming and reintegrating offenders into society.
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out murder charges against Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife, Queen Naomi Silekunola; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The Tide’s source recalls that the trio have been facing murder charges following the December 2024 children’s event stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
Justice B. K. Olawoyin delivering judgment yesterday, ruled that holding the defendants liable could discourage the public from engaging in humanitarian activities.
The court dismissed the four count charge, which included acceleration of death, conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm and failure to provide adequate medical facilities and security.
The Nigerian Military high command has stated that it is unaware of any community in the Northwest negotiating or entering peace agreements with bandits and terrorists for protection.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, dismissed reports suggesting such peace deals.
He questioned why any community would resort to negotiations, given the sustained military offensives against terrorist groups.
“The military is carrying out its operations in line with established protocols for internal security. If any community claims to be seeking peace with bandits, the military does not support that,” Kangye asserted.
He further emphasised that joint military operations, in collaboration with hybrid forces and other security agencies, have remained relentless in tackling terrorism and organised crime.
Throughout the past week, troops conducted a series of combat patrols, raids, ambushes, clearance operations, and search-and-rescue missions, resulting in significant successes.
According to Kangye, several terrorists were neutralised, their collaborators were captured, and kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.
