Another 430 pilgrims from Kebbi State who performed this year’s holy pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, are back in Nigeria.
The pilgrims arrived at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport Birnin Kebbi this Monday morning.
The plane AIRBUS A330 was said to have taken off from Jeddah International Airport, Saudi Arabia, at about 9 pm Saudi time and landed in Nigeria 1:20 am.
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Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor, confirmed the successful arrival of the pilgrims in a statement on Monday.
Idris said the flight conveyed pilgrims from Argungu and Dandi local government areas of the state, as well as some Kebbi government officials.
According to him, the third plane is expected to depart Saudi Arabia on Sunday night and arrive Nigeria next Monday morning.
Saudi Arabia had earlier announced that 1,301 pilgrims died during this year’s hajj.
In an interview with newsmen, the country’s minister of health, Fahd Al-Jalajel said 83 per cent of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in high temperatures to perform the hajj rituals.
The minister said 95 pilgrims were being treated in hospitals, some of whom were airlifted for treatment in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“1,301 people died during the Hajj1445 season. May Allah have mercy on them all, 83% of them are not authorised for Hajj, who walked long distances under the sun, without shelter or rest, including a number of elderly people and people with chronic diseases,” he said.
