Six intending pilgrims from Taraba State scheduled to participate in the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage have died ahead of their departure to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The acting Executive Secretary of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko, disclosed this on Saturday during a farewell ceremony for intending pilgrims held in Jalingo, the state capital.
Tanko said the state would airlift 716 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on Sunday for the annual pilgrimage.
He explained that although 738 persons initially indicated interest in participating in the exercise, only 716 completed payment of their Hajj fares before the deadline and were cleared for travel.
According to him, 723 visas were initially secured for the state, but seven were later cancelled following the deaths of six applicants and the disqualification of one pregnant woman.
“While 723 visas were secured, seven were later cancelled following the death of six applicants — four from natural causes and two from motor accidents — while another applicant was disqualified after being found pregnant,” Tanko said.
He advised the intending pilgrims to make prudent use of their Basic Travel Allowance to avoid hardship during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Tanko also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for providing both moral and financial support towards the success of the Hajj operations.
Speaking at the event through the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mohammed Al’amin Ibrahim, Governor Kefas urged the pilgrims to maintain discipline and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the pilgrimage.
The governor reminded them of the importance of the five pillars of Islam and the need to fulfil their religious obligations in obedience to Allah.
He cautioned the pilgrims against acts capable of tarnishing the image of Taraba State and Nigeria while in Saudi Arabia.
Kefas further stated that his administration attaches equal importance to Muslim and Christian pilgrimages, stressing the government’s commitment to supporting religious activities across the state.
He also called on the pilgrims to pray for peace, unity, and the sustenance of democracy in Taraba State and Nigeria during the current transition period.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Pilgrims’ Affairs, Alhaji Hammanadama Tukur, said the intending pilgrims had been adequately sensitised to the rules and expectations guiding the Hajj exercise.
Tukur said the pilgrims were provided with uniforms to enable easy identification and reduce cases of missing persons during the pilgrimage.
He praised Governor Kefas for his continued support and assured that the board remained committed to ensuring a hitch-free Hajj operation.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the board, Gambo Alhaji Malami, appealed to the state government to increase the number of seats allocated to board members and technical staff, describing the current allocation as inadequate.
“Despite current economic challenges, we hope and pray that the state government will adhere to the National Hajj Commission’s standard of 44 pilgrims per official, consistent with other states in the country,” he said.
