4,000 Nigerian Christians Evacuated From Holy Land as Iran Missiles Force Pilgrimage Shutdown

Nigeria Halts All Christian Pilgrimages to Israel as Middle East War Escalates

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has officially suspended all Christian pilgrimages to Israel and the occupied West Bank with immediate effect, citing the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

The announcement came on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, just hours after the final batch of over 500 Nigerian pilgrims safely landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, completing the 2025 Main Pilgrimage Exercise to Israel and Jordan.

Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, confirmed the decision during a press conference in Lagos, emphasizing that the safety of Nigerian citizens remains the government's top priority.

The safety and well being of Nigerian pilgrims remain the government's top priority.

Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, NCPC Executive Secretary

In total, approximately 4,000 Nigerian Christians were successfully transported to the Holy Land during the 2025 exercise, which began on December 29, 2025. The NCPC deployed a Boeing 777 300 aircraft with 525 seats, the largest aircraft ever used for a Christian pilgrimage airlift in Nigerian history.

The suspension was triggered by Israel's declaration of a state of emergency following coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026. Those strikes resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top military commanders. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other regional targets.

A March 2 strike on Beit Shemesh killed at least nine people, including civilians sheltering in bomb shelters.

The ban applies to all government organized pilgrimages, state coordinated trips, and private tour operators licensed to organize Holy Land travel. Several firms had already opened registration for 2026 trips scheduled for mid March.

NCPC Suspends Nigerian Pilgrimages to Holy Land Until Middle East Conflict Ends

Bishop Adegbite urged all Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in Jerusalem and across the Middle East. He assured that the Commission is closely monitoring developments and will only lift the suspension when conditions allow for safe travel.

The situation also affected American pilgrims. Forty one members of Calvary Chapel Summerville from South Carolina became stranded in Israel during the escalation but safely returned to JFK Airport on Thursday. Assistant pastor Charles Timmerman expressed gratitude for prayers and political support, noting the group had to shelter during alarms shortly after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport.

Officials thanked President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, and Secretary George Akume for their support in ensuring the successful completion of the pilgrimage before the suspension took effect.

The Crusader's Opinion

Four thousand Nigerian Christians made it home safely. Thank God. But the fact that believers have to flee the Holy Land because of Iranian missiles should wake every Christian up. The birthplace of our faith is under siege, and the world shrugs. These pilgrims walked where Jesus walked, and they had to be airlifted out before the bombs landed. Jerusalem belongs to the faithful, not to the warmongers of Tehran. We should be praying, yes, but we should also be demanding that our leaders stand firm in defense of Israel and of every Christian's right to visit the land of our Lord without fear of annihilation.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for peace in the Middle East and for the protection of all Christians traveling in the region. Share prayer requests with your congregation this Sunday.
• Contact your elected representatives and urge them to support policies that protect Christian access to holy sites in Israel. In the U.S., call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224 3121.
• Support Nigerian Christians and persecuted believers through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to Christians in crisis.
• Donate to Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs to support Christians living in conflict zones across the Middle East and Africa.
• Share this story with fellow believers. Many Christians do not know that pilgrimages to the Holy Land have been suspended. Awareness is the first step toward action.