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Tragedy struck the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board as two of its pilgrims died in Madina, Saudi Arabia, just 48 hours after their arrival. Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulsalam Abdulƙadir, said in a statement on Sunday that Salisu Mohammed died in a public hospital’s intensive care unit after suddenly falling ill, while Hawawu Mohammed died in an apparent suicide by falling from her apartment’s rooftop as confirmed by Saudi authorities.
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The pilgrims have been buried according to Islamic rites in Madina. The board expressed heartfelt condolences to the families and submitted to the will of Allah.
Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has secured the release of seven Nigerian pilgrims arrested by the Saudi police in Mecca for failing to carry their Nusuk identity cards with them.
NAHCON coordinator in Mecca, Aliyu Tanko, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday. The arrests occurred at various locations in the city between Monday and Saturday.
The commission had warned pilgrims against performing the hajj without the Nusuk ID card.
“The Saudi Authorities arrested seven of our pilgrims at different instances. They immediately took them out of Mecca to Jeddah and detained them.
“When we got the information we swung into action and secured their release from the authorities,” Mr Tanko said.
The coordinator said NAHCON has been calling on all pilgrims to carry their Nusuk card everywhere they go to avoid arrest.
One of the victims told journalists in Mecca that she lost her Nusuk card earlier given to her but she has requested for another one.
” I lost my Nusuk card earlier given to me on arrival. Although I requested another one, I am yet to get it. It was during this period that I got arrested.
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