• Saudi authorities ban political, sectarian expressions at hajj sites

Less than 24 hours to the commencement of the Hajj ritual, a pilgrim from Kano State, Shu’aibu Jibrin, has been confirmed dead in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The passage of Jibril was confirmed by the Spokesperson of the Kano State Pilgrim Welfare Board, Suleiman Dederi. The pilgrim was said to have died in the hospital after a brief illness on Tuesday.

A relative of the deceased, Sama’uddin Aliyu Kadawa, who is also on pilgrimage, also confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

According to Kadawa, the late Jibrin was a farmer from Gargai in Bebeji Local Council of the state. “He had a history of ulcer and hypertension and doctors at the hospital confirmed he suffered cardiac arrest and heart failure.

He was okay when he left home. After he became ill, he was admitted to the King Abdulazeez Hospital for two days and was discharged after his health improved.

“Unfortunately, his condition worsened again yesterday, and he was rushed back to the hospital. Despite the efforts of our Nigerian doctors and the medical team at the hospital, he passed away around 2:50 a.m.,” Kadawa said.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced a strict ban on taking photographs, and video recordings or raising political and sectarian expressions at main hajj sites.

In a statement, the ministry emphasised that pilgrims are prohibited from taking photographs or recording videos within Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, and at key hajj locations, including Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.

The ministry, which stressed that such actions could undermine the spiritual atmosphere of the hajj and cause division among pilgrims, reaffirmed that pilgrimage is a sacred time dedicated to worship, humility, and unity, and any conduct that contradicts these values will not be tolerated.

“Pilgrims are strongly encouraged to adhere to the regulations and cooperate fully with the authorities to ensure that 2025 Hajj is conducted in a peaceful, orderly, and spiritually enriching environment.

“Security personnel will be deployed throughout the pilgrimage period to monitor and enforce the regulations,” it stated.