2011 Hajj records 19 Nigerian deaths as final rites begin

2011 Hajj records 19 Nigerian deaths as final rites begin

By Qasim Akinreti

19 Nigerians performing this year’s Holy Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia have have reported death.

The deaths were attributed to ill health, sun stroke and accidents.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Hajj Commission, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello told newsmen at the pre-Arafat meeting in Jeddah that a Nigerian woman also had a still-birth.

 He prayed for the repose of their souls and extended condolences to the Nigerian government and families of the dead.

Mallam Muhammad Musa said“so far, about 73,000 Nigerian pilgrims had been booked for the return journey home next week. The remaining 16,000 will be airlifted after concluding their Hajj rites with a visit to Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Madina.”

Musa Bello commended this year’s Hajj operators for ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims met the target of airlift.

Arafat arrangements

Welcoming the pilgrims, the leader of the Nigerian delegation, Amirul-Hajj and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, informed the pilgrims that a central feeding system had been arranged for them on the plains of Arafat on Saturday.

He also solicited for the co-operation of state officials to ensure better services to the pilgrims throughout the duration of the Hajj, while urging Nigerians to maintain good conduct throughout the pilgrimage.

New Consul-General

At the same briefing, Nigeria ’s out-going Ambassador to Saudi Arabia , Mallam Ibrahim Minchi, thanked Hajj operators for their support and introduced the new Consular-General, Mallam Aminu   Nabiu.

Airspace closure

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has closed its airspace to all flights, as is the practice during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

More than four million Muslim pilgrims from around the world have converged in Makkah, for the annual religious rite, which commenced with the declaration of the intention to perform the Hajj.

Pilgrims then went on to wear the Ihram (loosely-sewn white garments for women and yards of white drapes for men), before starting their circumambulation of the holy mosque of Ka’aba, also referred to as the state of entering haram.

Final Events

Many of those who had left Makkah for a visit to the Prophet Muhammad Mosque in Madina and other historical sites, were reported to have returned to Makkah for the all important rite of climbing Mount Arafat, the climax of Hajj rites on Saturday.

On Thursday pilgrims will move to Muna, en-route Musdalifah, where they will pick some pebbles for the symbolic devil-stoning ritual, instituted by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).

Fervent special prayers will be offered from sunset to sunrise throughout the period until Sunday’s big event, which culminates in the sacrifice of rams in celebration of Eid-el Adha, also popularly called Eid-il Kabir, in many parts of the world.

The Hajj rites end with circumambulation of the Ka’bah, to bid farewell to the Holy city of Makkah.

Hajia Sani