Hajj 2023: Yobe to commence returning pilgrims July 12 – Chairman
The Yobe Pilgrims Commission says it will start returning 2,039 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia on July 12, after successful completion of the 2023 Hajj exercise.
Alhaji Mai-Aliyu Usman, the Executive Chairman, Yobe Pilgrims Commission said this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday in Makkah.
“I led 2,039 pilgrims to the holy land, including 2,029 regular pilgrims, five officials from the commission and five medical personnel,” he said.
Usman said two of the pilgrims lost their lives.
“A woman lost her life at the camp before departing Nigeria, the other man died at ‘Jamarat’, one of the spiritual sites at the holy land of Makkah, and was buried according to Islamic rites.
He added that one of the sick pilgrims would soon undergo medical surgery as a result of complications in one of his legs.
Usman explained that the delay in the payment of Basic Travelers Allowances (BTA) to some pilgrims was due to logistic constraints along the line.
The Chairman, however, said all the pilgrims later received their BTA of 700 USD.
He enjoined them not to carry luggage beyond 32 kilogramme as agreed, otherwise, they should make provision to pay for the extra.
Usman commended the Yobe government for providing an enabling atmosphere for a successful exercise.
He particularly commended Gov Mai Mala Buni for donating SAR 300 to each Yobe pilgrim for ‘Hadaya’, money for animal sacrifice.
