The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has issued an advisory to its pilgrims in Madinah, urging them to prioritise supplications in the Holy land in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, instead of chasing after artificial gold, silver, or diamond teeth.

The warning comes after the board foiled a scam involving third-party agents who were attempting to exploit Nigerian pilgrims by offering cosmetic dental fittings at exorbitant prices.

The agents, mostly Nigerian nationals based in Saudi Arabia, had posed as Hajj facilitators and lured pilgrims to fix artificial teeth at varying costs in Naira.

The board’s spokesperson, Habibu Babura, confirmed in a statement on Sunday that board officials have intervened and foiled an attempt to defraud some of its pilgrims at Madinah.

“The board, under the leadership of the Director-General, Alhaji Umar Ahmed Labbo, noted complaints regarding high and inconsistent prices being fraudulently charged to some of the pilgrims willing to buy the gold and diamond teeth,” Babura said.

“The board observed the pattern being perpetrated through marauding third-party agents disguising themselves as Hajj guides, swung into action, and prevented the exorbitant charges on the pilgrims.”

The state’s Amirul Hajj and Emir of Kazaure, His Highness, Dr Najib Hussaini Adamu, urged the pilgrims to prioritise supplications in the Holy land instead of rushing for the diamond teeth.

The emir commended the board officials for their timely intervention in foiling the fraud syndicate.

He urged the pilgrims to seek guidance from their centre officers and clerics before engaging in any activity in the Holy Land.

The Director-General of the Board, Ahmed Umar Labbo, reiterated the board’s commitment to ensuring the better welfare of the state pilgrims in Nigeria and in the Holy Land.”