Hajj Fraud: Kwara Govt Reimburses Victims Of $1 Bills Scam
The Kwara State Government has refunded affected pilgrims who were defrauded during the 2025 Hajj exercise, following a SaharaReporters investigation that revealed how some elderly Nigerian pilgrims were duped with $1 bills while attempting to exchange their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for Saudi Riyals.
The report featured revelations by Professor Imam Abubakr Ali-Agan, a University of Ilorin lecturer and one of the victims, who said that dishonest individuals posing as helpers swapped genuine $100 bills with $1 bills.
In response, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, through its Executive Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, confirmed that all pilgrims initially received $500 BTA in $100 denominations under the supervision of Board officials and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“Preliminary findings suggest the fraud occurred after arrival in Medina,” Abdulkadir stated.
He added that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had approved a refund of $500 for each affected pilgrim.
The governor also visited them in Mecca and offered additional financial support to ease their local expenses.
The Board condemned the perpetrators and urged anyone with useful information to help identify and prosecute those behind the fraudulent scheme.
It further noted that the fraudsters mostly targeted elderly pilgrims unfamiliar with foreign currencies, exploiting their trust under the pretext of helping them with currency exchange.
To curb similar incidents in future, the Board endorsed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposed plan to replace physical cash BTA disbursements with preloaded debit cards, which it said would improve transparency and protect vulnerable pilgrims.
“We strongly condemn the actions of those who preyed on the goodwill and vulnerability of our pilgrims,” the Board said.
“We also welcome any credible information that may assist in bringing the culprits to justice.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
