On Friday, June 7, 2024, a protest erupted at the Ilorin International Airport in Kwara State, Nigeria.
The protest was led by about 270 intending pilgrims who were stranded at the airport for five days without being airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
The aircraft that was meant to transport them developed a technical fault, leading to the protest.
The protesters blocked the highway leading to the airport, causing a gridlock. Security operatives were called in to calm the situation.
Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, the Kwara State Amirul Hajj, promised the pilgrims that they would be airlifted that night.
The last batch of pilgrims from Kwara State were successfully airlifted to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 3:06 a.m. local time.
