No fewer than seven Nigerian pilgrims have died during the ongoing 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following various health complications, PLATFORM TIMES has learnt.
The deaths, mostly involving elderly pilgrims, occurred at different stages of the spiritual exercise, which ended on Sunday after the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat and the departure of pilgrims from Mina to their hotels.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws millions of Muslims to the holy land annually.
However, not every pilgrim returns home alive, with health challenges—particularly among the aged—often leading to fatalities.
Among the deceased was Alhaji Sulaimon Hamzat from Oyo State, the Aare Musulumi of the Owala Muslim Community, who passed away on May 17. His death was the first to be recorded among the Nigerian contingent.
Also, Alhaji Saleh, a prominent cattle dealer and Chairman of the Lokpanta Cattle Market in Abia State, died on May 26 in Makkah.
On the same day, a 75-year-old pilgrim from Edo State, Adizatu Dazumi of Jattu Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area, succumbed to illness at the King Fahad General Hospital.
According to the Chairman of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Musah Uduimoh, she was buried the same day in accordance with Islamic rites.
Similarly, a pilgrim from Plateau State, Hajiya Jamila Muhammad, died from diabetes complications at the King Abdul’aziz Hospital in Makkah.
Her death was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Daiyabu Dauda.
From Kano State, Shu’aibu Jibrin, a farmer from Gargai in Bebeji Local Government Area, died on June 3. Jibrin had been discharged from the hospital after an initial recovery, but suffered a relapse and passed away due to cardiac arrest. His death was confirmed by his relative, Sama’uddin Aliyu Kadawa, also a pilgrim.
Another Nigerian pilgrim died on the plain of Arafat, a day that marks the peak of Hajj. The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, confirmed the incident, describing the death as natural and not related to the high temperatures often experienced during the rites.
In a separate case, another pilgrim died in Mecca just before the start of the Hajj rituals, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths among Nigerian pilgrims to seven.
While NAHCON has refrained from publicly disclosing the names of all deceased pilgrims until their families are informed, the commission has reiterated its concern over the health conditions of prospective pilgrims.
An official of NAHCON, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that most of the deceased were aged above 60 and had pre-existing health conditions.
He lamented that despite advisory guidelines, some pilgrims with serious medical issues were still allowed to travel.
“Nigerians that died are above the age of 60 years, and as the state pilgrims’ welfare boards announced, they took ill before they died. In many cases, death during the Hajj is even considered a blessing,” he said.
He added, “At the beginning of the exercise, a pilgrim gave birth, which indicates that she was heavily pregnant before arriving. This goes against NAHCON’s health advisory.”
Saudi authorities have tightened measures to curb unauthorised pilgrimages and reduce casualties. Ahead of the Hajj, the Kingdom suspended short-term visa issuance for 14 countries, including Nigeria, to prevent illegal entries into Makkah.
The government also imposed a fine of 20,000 riyals on anyone attempting to enter Makkah without a valid Hajj visa and banned children under 12 from participating in the exercise.
Although this year’s official death toll is yet to be released, the Saudi government had recorded over 1,000 deaths during the 2024 pilgrimage, many attributed to heatwaves and illegal participation.
While the journey to the holy land remains a spiritual aspiration for many Muslims, the incidents underscore the need for stricter health screenings and adherence to regulations to ensure the safety of all pilgrims.
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