What began as a routine return journey from Saudi Arabia turned into a harrowing ordeal for hundreds of Nigerian pilgrims on Saturday, exposing troubling gaps in passenger welfare and crisis coordination at Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.
After adverse weather forced a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight bound for Kano to divert to Abuja, passengers expected a brief delay. Instead, they were confined inside the aircraft for more than nine hours—without food, water, or clear communication—after landing safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Elderly pilgrims and other vulnerable passengers reportedly fell ill as hours dragged on, while frustration mounted over what many described as silence, excuses, and a lack of basic human care. Despite understanding the safety reasons for the diversion, passengers said the prolonged confinement and absence of welfare support crossed the line from inconvenience into neglect.
Matters worsened when passengers were eventually allowed to disembark late at night, only to discover that no accommodation or feeding arrangements had been made. Some were told to return to the airport the next day for onward travel, while others—already exhausted—were left to find their own way home.
Behind the scenes, a dispute over who should bear the cost of passenger care allegedly delayed action, raising serious questions about emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and passenger rights.
As of filing time, Saudi Arabian Airlines had yet to issue an official statement. For the stranded pilgrims, however, the experience left a bitter aftertaste—one that transformed a journey of faith into a night of distress, uncertainty, and indignity.
Pilgrims stranded nine hours in Abuja without food or answers
