Skip to main content

Hajj 2016: Sokoto State loses 3 pilgrims

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

The Director-General, Sokoto State Pilgrims’ Welfare Agency (PWA), Alhaji Ibrahim Umar,said the state had lost three pilgrims during the just concluded Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Friday that the pilgrims lost their lives in Mecca,after successfully completing the pilgrimage.

He said the deceased comprised two females from Goronyo and Bodinga local government areas and a male from Sokoto North Local Government Area.

“All of them had been buried according to Islamic rites in Mecca, while their families were duly informed about their demise.

“Another male pilgrim from Sokoto North Local Government is currently receiving medical attention at a Mecca hospital.

“He will be transported back to Nigeria through the Aminu Kano International Airport by the Saudi authorities when he gets well,” Umar said.

The director-general further said that the nineth and last flight of 532 pilgrims from the state arrived Sokoto Airport at 2 a.m. on Friday.

He said with the arrival of the last flight, 4,746 pilgrims from the state, who performed the Hajj, had successfully been transported back home.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...