PLATEAU STATE / JORDAN — Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State were denied entry into Israel after arriving in Jordan, their gateway to the Holy Land, as part of the first batch of 295 participants in the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage.
According to Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, the affected pilgrims received visas valid only for Jordan and were stopped at the border from crossing into Israel, the primary destination for Christian pilgrimage sites linked to Jesus’ birth, ministry, and resurrection.
Rev. Bagu expressed disappointment over the last-minute notice:
“We could not resolve any issues due to the extremely short notice. 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 noted that visa denials, while disappointing, are not uncommon in international travel, citing similar occurrences for visas to the UK and USA.
Jordanian authorities have accommodated the affected pilgrims, providing hotel lodging, meals, dedicated cars with drivers, and tour guides. The pilgrims will continue to visit significant biblical and historical sites in Jordan until the rest of the group completes the Israel program and returns.
The Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board plans three batches of pilgrims for 2026, with 466 names forwarded for the second batch, expected to depart on March 5, and at least 350 in the third batch, bringing the total requested slots to nearly 1,120.
Rev. Bagu clarified that the sponsorship amount has not increased, explaining that rising expenses were due to exchange rate fluctuations, similar to previous Muslim Hajj arrangements.
The development occurs amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. On February 28, President Donald Trump announced large-scale military operations against Iran, citing the elimination of imminent threats from the Iranian regime and the prevention of nuclear proliferation.
Trump and Israeli officials later confirmed that airstrikes in Tehran killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with additional strikes targeting military sites in Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah, Qum, and Tabriz. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and US facilities across the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
The pilgrims’ situation has sparked discussion over whether authorities should improve visa processes, or if such last-minute denials are simply part of international travel realities.
