The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Makkah

  • 2017 Hajj: Kwara Pilgrims Board warns drug traffickers

    2017 Hajj: Kwara Pilgrims Board warns drug traffickers

    The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, says it is collaborating with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure that no suspected drug trafficker is found among the 2017 intending pilgrims.

    Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the board disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in llorin.

    The secretary, who was reacting to the arrest of three pilgrims from Kwara in Saudi Arabia during 2016 pilgrimage, said the incident was regrettable and would not happen again in the history of the board.

    He said the NDLEA had assured the board of availability of modern scanning machines to detect suspected drug peddlers who might attempt to travel to the Holy Land from the state.

    According to him, any drug baron planning to travel with through the board should have a rethink, as adequate arrangement has been put in place to fish them out.

    Tunde-Jimoh advised intending pilgrims not to travel with Kola nuts or other substances outlawed by Saudi Arabia.

    He said the board had made arrangements to conduct series of enlightenment programmes to acquaint them with Hajj rites.

    According to him, the board has already secured befitting accommodation for the comfort of 2017 pilgrims in Makkah ,Madinah.

    Tunde-Jimoh warned the intending pilgrims from paying the balance of their Hajj fare through agents, saying payment should be made to only the banks designated by the board.

    NAN reports that a total of 2,168 pilgrims and 20 officials are expected to perform the 2017 Hajj from Kwara.

     

  • Buhari condemns missile attack targeting Makkah 

    Buhari condemns missile attack targeting Makkah 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed Nigeria’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the ballistic missile launched by Houthi militias, targeting the holy city of Makkah.

    A statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari  spoke with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia via telephone.

    Buhari condemned the heinous act, which targeted innocent people.

    According to him, it is reprehensible and ignoble for terrorists to target a holy land, where millions of Muslims from around the globe gather for pilgrimage.

    The President expressed delight and appreciation to Almighty God that the Saudi defence forces intercepted and downed the missile, 65 kilometres  from the holy city of Makkah.

    Buhari reiterated the need to strengthen international support and coalition in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

    He noted that, “when the world stands together, there is no way good will not prevail over evil.’’

  • Lagos pilgrims visit historical sites in Makkah

    Pilgrims from Lagos State have commenced rounds of visitation to different historic sites in the Saudi Arabia.

    The visits, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, who doubles as the state’s Amirul Hajj, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, said, was aimed at exposing the pilgrims to sites they have read in the Quran and other Islamic literatures.

    He listed such sites as Mount Arafat, Jabali- Tur, Muna, Musdalifa, Jabal Nur and Cave Hira among others.

    Pilgrims all over the world are expected converge on the Mount Arafat for their hajj to be valid.

    The mount Arafat was historical in the lives of Muslim faithful as it was a place where Adam met his wife, Hawau (Eve) after they have missed each other when they flouted directives of Allah from eating the forbidden fruits.

    Explaining the government’s decision, AbdulLateef said: “It is important to expose our pilgrims to these sites. The idea was to create an opportunity for them to have first-hand information about the places they have heard about. With this visits, the pilgrims have seen by themselves places where some Prophets spent their lives.

    “The visitations also become imperative with a view to acquitting the pilgrims with the historical sites where hajj activities will take place.”

  • Hajj Stampede: Nigeria death toll now 145

    Hajj Stampede: Nigeria death toll now 145

    The death toll of Nigerians in the recent stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia has risen to 145.

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Sunday that a total of 345 Nigerians were affected in the September 24 deadly stampede and figure of the injured stands at 35, while those still missing are 165.

    The Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told reporters in Makkah that seven Nigerians are still admitted in hospital and are responding to treatment.

    He was speaking at a joint press conference of the top management of the commission’s operational activities of the 2015 Hajj exercise and the update on the stampede with the Chargé d’Affaires Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh Ambassador Tijjani Hammanjoda and the Nigerian Consul-General to Saudi Arabia Ambassador Ahmed Umar.

  • Makkah tragedy deeply touching – Lawal

    Makkah tragedy deeply touching – Lawal

    The Chairman and National Coordinator of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Scandinavia, Ayoola Lawal has described the death of all Muslim faithful in Saudi Arabia as national tragedy.
    The National Coordinator condoles with Muslims all over the world over the untimely death of several pilgrims during the stampede in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
    In his condolence message, Ayoola noted that it is deeply touching to read about another tragic incidence in Saudi Arabia during this year’s holy pilgrimage.
    “My heart goes to all the bereaved families all over the world and special condolences to the families of Nigerian pilgrims, whose loved ones fell victims of the unfortunate and tragic stampede.
    “The Saudi authorities will need to conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding the first and second tragic incidents and take all necessary and appropriate measures against such future tragic occurrences.
    He however prayed that the souls of the departed fellows rest in peace and God grants the families and friends of the dead the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • ‘How pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia’

    Death toll now 736

    The Saudi Arabian authorities have confirmed that at least 453 pilgrims taking part in the ongoing Hajj have died while 405 others sustained injuries Thursday on their way from Muzdalifa to Jamrat, where the symbolic stoning of devil takes place near the city of Makka.
    However, as at the time of filing this report, a Saudi Television Channel, ‘Saudi 2’ said death toll has risen to 736.
    According to various accounts, the incident was caused by a stampede close to Jamrat owing to the high number of pilgrims who have converged in Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.
    Speaking to The Nation, Alhaji Muhamadu Ilela, a pilgrim from Sokoto state who was at the scene, said that the deaths occurred because the Saudi police blocked one of the gates leading to the Jamrat area.
    ‘’For over one hour, the queue didn’t move and we were in the scorching sun. After some time, people started collapsing because of the heat wave. This was what caused the initial deaths. A stampede followed which caused the deaths of most pilgrims,’’ Ilela stated.
    The eye witness said that the victims were of different nationalities.
    Speaking to our correspondent on phone, the Public Relations Officer of the state National Hajj Commission, Uba Mana said that Emir of Kano and Amir of the Hajj team and all other stakeholders were meeting at the time of filing this report.
    Another respondent alleged that the incident occurred at one of the tents at Muna and not Muzdalifa.
    The Saudi Civil Defence Directorate did not state the cause of the deaths and where the incident precisely occurred. However, it reported on Twitter that 4,000 personnel had been sent to the scene of stampede, along with more than 220 emergency and rescue units.
    It will be recalled that last Sunday, the Head of Nigerian delegation for this year’s Hajj and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, urged pilgrims to accept the arrangement which the
    Saudi Authorities have put in place over ‘’the stoning of the devil’’ at Jamrat.
    Amirul Hajj Sanusi revealed that performing the stoning of the devil in batches and spreading the time for the Islamic rite to include the period of Zawal (sun rise) is necessary to protect the lives of pilgrims.
    The Emir noted that ‘’on many occasion, pilgrims have been killed at the stoning site from stampede arising out of thousands of pilgrims converging to do the throwing at the same time, among number of causes.’’
    Emir Sanusi II recalled that 266 pilgrims had died in 1994 while 98 others were injured at the
    stoning site that year. Ten years later, 251 pilgrims died in 2004 and in 2006, 346 had also lost their lives, he added.
    According to him, ‘’all these incidents happened at the Jamarat. The frequency and sheer enormity necessitated the following arrangement of the concerned authority, by performing the ritual in a way that will protect human life.’’
    The Emir argued that if lives will be protected by performing the ritual before sun rise, then one of the fundamental objectives of Sharia will be fulfilled at the level of absolute necessities.

  • 20 Nigerian pilgrims die in Makkah

    20 Nigerian pilgrims die in Makkah

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

    The commission Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, who spoke at a pre-Arafat stakeholders’ meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said 14 pilgrims died following cardiac arrest and other ailments, and six lost their lives in the September 11 crane crash.

    He said three Nigerians were injured in the crash, as against six earlier reported by the media.

    The chairman said the pilgrims, who submitted valid documents to the commission for visa, were transported to Saudi Arabia.

    He said the security situation in the country was tight and advised the pilgrims to be orderly and stay in Makkah.

    Mukhtar urged the pilgrims to drink more water because of the harsh weather, saying they should only expose themselves to the sun when necessary.

    According to him, female pilgrims should move in groups and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.

    On Arafat, the chairman said the pilgrims would start moving to Mina on Monday at midnight and advised them against climbing the roof of buses conveying them.

    He said: “We have resolved at a meeting with clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authority to start moving to Mina.”

    Mukhtar warned clerics against inciting pilgrims against the resolution, saying anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.

    His words: “Anyone who violates the decision of the Ulama will be sanctioned. The commission has the power to sanction anyone found wanting.”