One hundred Nigerian Christian pilgrims from Oyo State have returned safely to Ibadan, the state capital, after completing their pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, despite heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran during their stay.
A report by the Nigerian Tribune said that several of the pilgrims recounted witnessing “missile alerts and attacks in real time,” describing how air-raid sirens would abruptly disrupt daily activities, prompting residents to seek immediate shelter.
“They spoke of seeing bright streaks flash across the night sky and hearing distant explosions — experiences they described as both frightening and surreal,” the report published late yesterday, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, said.
“Despite the tense security situation, the pilgrims said the trip remained spiritually enriching. They engaged in fervent prayers and visited historic biblical sites they had long read about in the Scriptures, describing the pilgrimage as a profound expression of faith and resilience in the face of uncertainty.”
“Welcoming the pilgrims shortly after their arrival at the Pilgrims Welfare Board office in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing), Bishop Ademola Moradeyo, expressed deep gratitude to God for preserving the group throughout the spiritually significant journey,” the report said.
It added that “the safe return of the delegation has brought relief to families and church communities back home, even as tensions continue to draw global attention to the region.”(News Express)
