Damuna, who is also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, said that three of the intending pilgrims were discovered to be pregnant, while the fourth was disqualified on health grounds.

He said that officials of the state medical team discovered the pregnant intending pilgrims during their final screening.

Damuna said that the other pilgrim barred on health grounds was seriously sick.

“She was seriously sick and was also barred from boarding the aircraft conveying third and fourth batches of the state pilgrims on health ground,’’ he said.

The speaker said that the third batch of the pilgrims from the state consisted of those from Misau, Shira, Zaki and Bogoro Local Government Areas.

He said that the fourth batch was made up of intending pilgrims from Itas Gadau, Ningi and Jama’are Local Government Areas.

The deputy Amiral Hajj commended the management of the State Carrier, Fly Nass, for their commitment in the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia as scheduled.

He said that the exercise would be completed in good time.