Nasarawa Pilgrim Dies In Saudi Arabia

A Nasarawa State pilgrim, Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, has died in Makah, in the Kingdom of Saidi Arabia.

The 70-year-old pilgrim who hailed from Keffi, in Keffi local government area, died of an undisclosed ailment yesterday morning.

Her death was confirmed by the executive secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Board, Idris Ahmad Almakura.

The executive secretary said the late pilgrim had earlier complained that she was not feeling very well, resulting in her admission in one of the health facilities.

He said despite the efforts of medical personnel to save her, she passed on in the early hours of yesterday.

A statement by the Public Relation Officer of the Board, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Mohammed noted that the executive secretary alongside other officials and few family members of the deceased, oversee the preparation and movement of the deceased remains to the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the performance of the Janazah (funeral) prayers.

According to the statement, the late Hajiya Rukayya was buried according to Islamic rites at the Makkah cementry after the Jana’iza prayers by Imam Faisal Jamil.

The statement quoted the executive secretary as advising other pilgrims to prioritize their health and report any symptoms early to the board’s medical team.

“The Executive Secretary extended the board’s condolences to the Nasarawa State government, the immediate family of Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, and the entire staff and management of the pilgrims’ welfare board,” the statement said.

LEADERSHIP reports that 1,600 pilgrims were cleared and uplifted to holy land for the 2026 exercise.

It was gathered that the state’s contingents were the first to be airlifted to the holy land after the inaugural flight by National Hajj Commission on third May this year.