Screen Pilgrims Before 2027 Hajj to Avoid ISWAP Inclusion — Group Charges NAHCON

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation that monitors Hajj and Umrah operations, has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to introduce compulsory security screening for all intending pilgrims ahead of the 2027 Hajj exercise.

The group said the recommendation became necessary following the recent arrest of suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders after returning from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, describing the incident as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s pilgrimage management system.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, the organisation called for pre-registration security screening to become a mandatory requirement before pilgrims complete their registration process.

“Pre-registration screening should be made compulsory for all intending pilgrims participating in the 2027 Hajj exercise,” the statement said.

According to the group, NAHCON and State Pilgrims Welfare Boards should establish dedicated security screening committees responsible for profiling and vetting intending pilgrims who have made their initial Hajj deposits.

The committees, it suggested, should visit states regularly to collect information on intending pilgrims and identify individuals who may pose security risks before final registration and visa processing.

“NAHCON and the State Boards should create security screening committees that will visit states every two weeks to obtain the profiles of intending pilgrims and properly vet them to prevent a repeat of what recently happened in Katsina State,” the statement added.

The organisation also proposed the development of a centralised digital pilgrim registration database that would synchronise information across all states and automatically flag security concerns for further investigation.

According to IHR, such a system would strengthen screening procedures and prevent criminal elements from exploiting pilgrimage programmes as a means of travelling abroad.

The group recalled that some wanted criminal suspects were also arrested at Hajj embarkation centres during the 2025 pilgrimage, insisting that the repeated incidents justify stricter screening measures.

While acknowledging the compressed registration timetable for the 2027 Hajj introduced by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, IHR maintained that security considerations should not be sacrificed for speed.

The organisation expressed confidence in NAHCON’s current leadership, urging the commission to adopt the recommendations to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj operations and prevent individuals linked to terrorism or other criminal activities from participating in future pilgrimages.