Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reimbursed pilgrims from the state who were defrauded in a foreign currency scam while in Saudi Arabia.
A statement by the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and e-signed by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir disclosed that an investigation is underway into the incident involving some pilgrims who reportedly lost their Basic Travel Allowance, BTA, to fraudsters.
“Each pilgrim received their $500 BTA in five $100 bills, distributed publicly and under the supervision of Directorate of State Security, DSS, officials, who verified the authenticity of the currency,” the statement said.
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“Pilgrims also signed for the collection of their BTA after counting the money in the presence of board and DSS officials.”
Addressing viral videos from Saudi Arabia, the board said preliminary findings indicate the fraud likely occurred after the pilgrims arrived in Medina.
“In some of the videos, pilgrims mostly elderly and unfamiliar with foreign currencies claimed they received five $1 bills instead of $100 bills. Evidence suggests the scam occurred when these individuals sought help from strangers to convert their dollars to Saudi Riyals,” the board noted.
“These unscrupulous individuals took advantage of the pilgrims’ vulnerability by switching the bills under the pretense of assisting with currency exchange.”
To address the situation, Governor AbdulRazaq has refunded each affected pilgrim with $500 to cover their loss.
“We pray Allah rewards His Excellency for his swift and compassionate response,” the statement added.
The board also mentioned the governor’s earlier visit to pilgrims in Mecca, during which he provided financial support to all pilgrims for local expenses.
Furthermore, the board expressed support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposed reform to disburse BTA through preloaded debit cards rather than physical cash.
“This reform will enhance transparency, minimize fraud risks, and help especially the elderly manage their funds more securely,” it concluded.
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