Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has rewarded a female pilgrim, Zainab Idris, with ₦1 million for returning $5,000 she found during the 2025 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia to its rightful owner, a citizen of Tajikistan.
Idris, a pilgrim from Plateau State, reportedly discovered the money while performing Hajj rites and made efforts to trace the owner before handing the foreign currency over.
Presenting the governor’s cash reward at the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Dayyabu Dauda, said the gesture was to appreciate Idris’ rare display of honesty and integrity.
He said the governor considered her conduct as an exemplary act that reflected the good values of Plateau citizens and Islam.
“We are proud of these pilgrims because they have proved to the world that they are people of good character. Before they travelled, the governor urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the state — and they have justified that,” Dauda stated.
Governor Mutfwang, according to the Executive Secretary, also presented a new smartphone to another pilgrim, Malam Ayuku, who returned a missing iPhone to its owner during the same pilgrimage.
Dauda quoted the governor as urging citizens to emulate the pilgrims’ honesty, stressing that good character remains a lasting virtue that promotes the image of both individuals and the state.
Expressing gratitude, Idris described the governor as “a father figure who appreciates integrity,” adding that the reward would go a long way in supporting her small business.
“I didn’t return the money expecting a reward, but I’m grateful that the governor recognised it. This will encourage me to do more and also inspire others to be honest,” she said.
Observers have since commended the governor’s recognition of moral uprightness, describing it as a positive example in a society often criticised for rising moral decay.
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