Five Plateau Christian pilgrims denied entry into Israel amid Middle East tension 

Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State have been denied entry into Israel after arriving in Jordan as part of the state’s 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage.

The affected pilgrims were among the first batch of 295 pilgrims who departed Nigeria to visit biblical sites associated with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. However, they were stopped at the Jordan–Israel border after authorities discovered their visas permitted entry only into Jordan.

Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, said the visa list was received shortly before the pilgrims’ orientation and farewell ceremony, leaving little time to address discrepancies.

“We could not resolve any issues due to the extremely short notice. I later discovered that some pilgrims had been issued visas only for Jordan and were denied entry to Israel. Had we known earlier, we could have informed them in time, allowing them the option to either stay in Jordan or cancel their trip entirely,” he said.

Rev. Bagu described the development as deeply disappointing, noting that Israel represents a central destination for Christian pilgrims because of its significance in the biblical account of Jesus’ birth, ministry, and resurrection.

“To prepare spiritually and financially, only to be told at the last minute that you cannot enter is very painful and unexpected,” he added.

He explained that visa denials are not unusual in international travel, stressing that such situations affect travellers across different countries.

“Even wealthy individuals get denied visas for the UK or USA and often have to reapply sometimes multiple times before succeeding. It is a normal occurrence in international travel,” he said.

Rev. Bagu disclosed that the Israeli embassy had already notified Jordanian authorities about the visa restriction, adding that arrangements had been made to ensure the affected pilgrims were well accommodated.

“As a result, the five pilgrims are not stranded as Jordanian officials have arranged good hotel accommodation, meals for their entire stay, dedicated cars with drivers, and tour guides. They will visit significant biblical and historical sites in Jordan and remain engaged in meaningful activities until the rest of the group completes their Israel programme and return,” he said.

He further revealed that although the first batch was initially planned to include 300 pilgrims, only 295 eventually travelled. He added that three batches had been scheduled for the pilgrimage exercise.

According to him, the board forwarded 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for the second batch, with at least 350 pilgrims expected to depart on March 5, 2026, while another batch of about 350 pilgrims is planned, though its departure date has yet to be fixed.

Rev. Bagu also addressed concerns over alleged increases in pilgrimage costs, clarifying that the Plateau State Government had not raised its sponsorship contribution.

He attributed the rise in expenses to exchange rate fluctuations, noting that similar challenges had previously affected Muslim pilgrims undertaking the Hajj.

Five Plateau Christian pilgrims denied entry into Israel amid Middle East tension