A 70-year-old Nigerian pilgrim from Nasarawa State, Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, has died in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage.
The death was confirmed on Wednesday by the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the Executive Secretary of the board, Mallam Idris Ahmad Almakura, disclosed the incident while speaking with journalists in Makkah.
According to him, the deceased hailed from Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and had complained of illness before her death.
Almakura explained that medical personnel attached to the pilgrims’ contingent attended to the late pilgrim after she reported feeling unwell.
He, however, noted that all efforts to stabilise her proved unsuccessful.
“She complained of illness and despite medical efforts, she drew her last breath this morning,” he said.
The board’s executive secretary added that officials of the board, alongside family members of the deceased, were present at the hospital to supervise the necessary funeral arrangements.
According to the officials, the remains of the deceased were moved to the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the Janazah prayer, an important Islamic funeral rite observed for deceased Muslims.
The solemn exercise was attended by relatives, officials of the pilgrims’ board, and other Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Almakura also used the opportunity to advise other pilgrims to prioritise their health throughout the pilgrimage period.
He urged them to promptly report any signs of illness to the medical teams deployed by the board for immediate attention.
The executive secretary extended condolences to the Nasarawa State Government, the immediate family of the deceased, and members of staff and management of the pilgrims’ welfare board.
In a separate interview, one of the deceased’s relatives, Abdulwab Aboki, expressed appreciation to the board for the support given to the family during the difficult moment.
He commended the officials for what he described as transparency and care throughout the burial process.