Conference of Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards has expressed delight over the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East. National Secretary, Conference of State Pilgrims, Simeon Onakpa, who is also the Kogi State Secretary of Christian Pilgrims Commission, expressed delight on behalf of his colleagues in a chat with The Guardian in his office in Lokoja, yesterday.

Onakpa said: “The situation in the Middle East since 2023 has been a serious concern to us Nigerian Christians, and it is a thing of joy that we are noticing a ceasefire across the region once again.

“With peace gradually returning to the Middle East, it became possible for another peaceful pilgrimage with the Lagos contingent, who left the shores of Nigeria to Israel and Jordan on December 22, 2024, with 300 pilgrims.

“After Lagos, FCT was the next with over 200 pilgrims. As I speak to you, Plateau State is there in Israel with 300 pilgrims and will be returning soon. And as they return, other states will be taking their turns also.”

Onakpa pointed out that despite the tense security situations in the Middle East since 2023, the Christian faithful had not stopped embarking on pilgrimage to the troubled region, stressing that there had not been a single record of casualty or cases of defection by Nigerian pilgrims.

“Despite the war situation in Israel and the Middle East, the agitations and demands by Christian faithful to go on pilgrimage are increasing. It shows how much people trust their God even in war situations,” he added.