Bauchi state has banned three pregnant women and an elderly pilgrim taken ill from travelling to Mecca on pilgrimage.

Authorities dropped the three women after a screening on the pilgrim camp confirmed them pregnant. The four pilgrim was dropped on account of ill health and age.

Bauchi’s deputy ameerul hajj and speaker of the state assembly, Kawuwa Damina announced the changes to journalists at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi Friday.

Damina expressed hope that since there will be two daily flights, the operation will come to an end in the next few days.

‎The first and second batches of pilgrims flew out on Thursday while the third and fourth batches departed on Friday.

Two more flights will take pilgrims from five local government areas.