Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has provided financial relief to state pilgrims in Saudi Arabia who were defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), giving each affected person $500.

The move was announced by the Executive Secretary of the Kwara Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, AbdulSalam Abdulkadir, following viral reports and videos showing distressed pilgrims who claimed they received $1 bills instead of the expected $100 denominations.

An internal review confirmed that each pilgrim initially received $500 in five $100 bills, with distribution overseen by security and DSS officials. Recipients reportedly signed confirmation forms after counting their funds.

The fraud is believed to have occurred in Medina, where some elderly pilgrims unfamiliar with foreign currency were duped while trying to exchange dollars for Saudi Riyals. Strangers posing as helpers allegedly swapped the $100 notes for $1 bills.

The Board described the situation as a reminder of the vulnerability of elderly pilgrims in unfamiliar settings and said investigations are ongoing to find those responsible.