Taraba Pilgrim Dies Hours Before 2026 Hajj Airlift

A 73-year-old intending pilgrim from Taraba State, Hajiya Dado Hammadu, has died in Yola, Adamawa State, hours before her scheduled departure to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

The deceased, who hailed from Gombi in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, reportedly fell ill shortly after arriving at the Yola International Airport alongside other pilgrims awaiting airlift to the Holy Land.

Hajiya Hammadu was said to be among over 700 intending pilgrims from the state for this year’s Hajj exercise.

The Information Officer of the Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hamza Baba Muri, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

According to him, the deceased became ill on Sunday night and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, where she later died.

Muri disclosed that medical personnel diagnosed her with low blood pressure before her death.

He added that the deceased was buried in Yola on Monday morning with the consent of her family members.

“She was among the 415 pilgrims scheduled for the first batch of Taraba State’s 2026 Hajj airlift on Monday, 11 May 2026,” he said.

Muri further stated that the Special Adviser attended the funeral prayer for the Governor on Muslim Pilgrims Affairs, Alhaji Hamman Adama Tukur, Chairman of the Yola International Airport Committee, Malam Jamal Abdulnasir, staff of the Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, and hundreds of intending pilgrims billed for the inaugural flight.