A somber moment has struck the Nigerian Hajj community as a pilgrim reportedly passed away on the sacred plain of Arafat during this year’s pilgrimage to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, confirmed the heartbreaking news to journalists shortly after the national prayer session organized by the commission.
“With heavy hearts, we announce that one of our beloved pilgrims sadly lost their life today in Arafat,” Prof. Usman said. “Another pilgrim had also passed away earlier before we departed from Mecca.”
While the incident sparked concerns over the extreme temperatures in the region, the NAHCON boss clarified that the cause of death was natural, ruling out the possibility of a heatwave-related fatality.
In keeping with NAHCON’s protocol, the identity of the deceased will not be disclosed publicly until the family has been duly notified.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and the entire Hajj community.