Hajj 2024: Kebbi state loses another pilgrim in Makkah

The Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board says Abubakar Abdullahi, a resident of the state, has died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad Idris, the chief press secretary to Nasir Idris, Kebbi state governor, announced the death in a statement on Monday. 

He said Abdullahi is from Gulma town in Argungu LGA of Kebbi state.

In May, the board had announced the death of Tawakaltu Alamo and Muhammad Suleman who also hailed from Kebbi.

The secretary quoted Idris as expressing shock over the development and praying to God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

“The governor also urged the immediate family of the deceased, friends and Kebbi pilgrims to take heart and accept the will of God in good faith,” he said.

“The deceased had since been buried according to Islamic rites after a funeral prayer at Masjid Al-Ihram (Ka’aba), on Friday.”

LAST BATCH OF PILGRIMS DEPARTS FOR SAUDI ARABIA 

The final batch of state quota pilgrims have departed Nigeria for Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Monday, Fatima Usara, spokesperson for NAHCON, said the airlift combined 211 pilgrims from the federal capital territory (FCT), Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, and Niger states with the last batch of officials for the Hajj operations.

She added that the Flynas aircraft departed Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja in the early hours of Monday.

“This flight marks the end of this year’s outbound airlift to Makkah for state quota pilgrims,” she said.

Usara stated that the final airlift of private tour operators’ pilgrims by Aero Contractors is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Monday.

She added that other private tour operators are expected to complete their airlifts before the closure of Jeddah and Madinah airports for inbound Hajj flights.

“The return journey for the 2024 hajj is slated to commence on the 22nd of June 2024 on a first-in, first-out basis. The slots for the return journey have been secured by all airlines,” she said.

The spokesperson said Jalal Arabi, the commission’s chairman, listed the successful airlifting of all pilgrims before Saudi Arabia’s deadline and the 100% movement of pilgrims to Madinah pre-Arafat among the “achievements” of the operation.

Usara quoted Arabi commending president Bola Tinubu and vice president resident Kashim Shettima for their critical support in ensuring a successful Hajj operation.

NAHCON’s command and control centre, in an update on Monday, noted that the total figure of state quota pilgrims to be 50,865 — 31,726 male and 19,139 female. 

The centre said the pilgrims were airlifted in 121 flights operated by Flynas, Air Peace and Max Air.

105 flights landed at the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah with 43,299 pilgrims.

Sixteen flights landed at the King Abdulaziz Internation Airport in Jeddah with 7,566 pilgrims.

The inaugural flight began on May 15 at the Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi, airlifting pilgrims from Kebbi, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).