SOKOTO (Nigeria), Sept 24: Nigerian officials say 398 Muslim women pilgrims travelling to Makkah were temporarily held at a Saudi Arabian airport for travelling without male relatives.    

A spokesman for Nigeria’s National Haj Commission said Saudi authorities held the Nigerian women between Thursday and Monday at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah.    Spokesman Uba Mana said the women were allowed to proceed with their pilgrimage on Monday following diplomatic intervention.    He said Saudi authorities held them for not travelling with a male relative due to a “communication gap.’’ He said an agreement between the countries exempts Nigerian women from requiring a male relative to escort them during the Hajj pilgrimage, which costs about $4,000 per person.—AP