Female pilgrim declared missing in Saudi

One out of the 668 Muslim pilgrims from Taraba State to the just concluded pilgrimage in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been declared missing.

The missing pilgrim, Hassan Abdullahi Bamuze, was reported to be missing from the two batches of pilgrims that arrived in the state.

Confirming the report on Saturday in Jalingo, the state capital, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Baba Hamza Muri, said the missing female pilgrim “has not been found yet.”

The board said relevant mechanisms have been put in place to locate her and admitted that the “National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has assured that they will do everything humanly possible to help us find her.”

He said the state, completed the 2022 Hajj successfully with the arrival of the last batch of 131 pilgrims from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia today.

“The state pilgrims began their journey back home after the completion of the Hajj rites with 536 pilgrims last Saturday, the board is elated that the exercise was successful.”

Some of the pilgrims who spoke with our correspondent described the exercise as one of the best the board has ever carried out in the state.