No fewer than 13 pilgrims out of the 156 from Delta State who travelled to Israel on pilgrimage last year absconded upon arrival in the Holy City.

The Delta State Commissioner of the Bureau for Special Duties, Mr. Ernest Ogwezzy made the revelation in Asaba, the state capital on Tuesday.

Ogwezzy said that the pilgrims who embarked on the journey consisted of 146 people and 10 officials who were sponsored by the state government, out of which 13 absconded. He assured  that the state government has put stringent measures in place to check future occurrences.

“The state government frowns at pilgrims absconding. We will not tolerate it. It is supposed to be for religious obligation. We have put stringent machinery in motion to ensure that pilgrims sponsored by the state come back,” the commissioner said.