Hajj 2017: Nigerian arrested at Haram for picking lost item

Security operatives at Haram in Saudi Arabia have arrested a Nigerian, from Sokoto State suspected of picking a lost item belonging to another pilgrim.
The security operatives suspected that the pilgrim had intention to convert the item to his personnel belonging.
Narrating the incident to pilgrims in Makkah, Nigerian Consul – General, Jeddah, Amb. Mohammed Sani Yunusa advised pilgrims against picking any item that does not belong to them as the premises of Haram has over 2,000 CCTV cameras.
According to him, he and other officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had made all frantic efforts to locate the where about of the suspect, but it could not yet be ascertained up till the time of filling in this report.
According to report, in the Saudi Arabian law, any suspect found guilty of an offense of this nature, such pilgrim would be dealt with in accordance with Sharia law.
…560 First batch of Kwara pilgrims arrive tomorrow
By Matthew Denis
No fewer than 560 first batch of Kwara Muslim pilgrims who travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s hajj will arrive the Ilorin international Airport, tomorrow (Tuesday).
Recall that a total of 2,942 pilgrims from Ilorin zone were airlifted this year at the Ilorin airport. This figure comprises pilgrims from three states; Ekiti 172, Kwara 2,468 and Ondo 302, making the Ilorin zonal district of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
The Executive Secretary of Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh made the disclosure during a telephone chat with National Pilot yesterday.
He said, “The flight schedule for the first batch of 560 pilgrims from the state for the return journey from the holy land by Max Air will arrive Ilorin on Tuesday, while the second flight on Wednesday by Medview will comprise 450 passengers. The third flight on Thursday by Max Air will have 560 passengers onboard,” he said.
Jimoh further stated that the fourth schedule will take place on Friday by same airline with 140 passengers while the sixth flight (MedView) will arrive the following day with 450 pilgrims.
The Executive Secretary who appreciated Allah for the success of the hajj exercise admonished the pilgrims to reflect the moral and spiritual lessons learnt abroad in their lives.
He said, “Pilgrimage activities doesn’t stop at the holy land but make it part and parcel of your lives for people around you to see you as faithful and a committed Muslim.”
He also urged them to continue to pray for peace and unity to reign in the state and country at large.
…NAHCON commences preparations for 2018 exercise
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) has commenced preparations for 2018 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for effective planning.
Towards this end, the commission has set up a committee which comprised representatives from the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia, representative of Forum of state chairmen, secretariat from the six geo- political zones, comprising Lagos, Adamawa, Kaduna, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Enugu and River State.
The Chairman of the commission, Barr Abdullahi Mukthar Muhammad disclosed this in Makkah while addressing a meeting of NAHCON, state officials and Chief Executives of airlines.
He stated that the committee’s terms of reference would include to plan for the Organisation of accommodation in Madina, to consolidate on the feat achieved during the just concluded pilgrimage and to review and negotiate the price of the accommodation downward if possible.
Muktah said that the decision was majorly to effectively plan ahead to secure the pilgrims accommodation in Markaziyah area of Madinah.
According to him, the NAHCON accommodation is being challenged by other countries such as Pakistan, Iranian and Indonesian missions who are plotting to displace Nigeria from exclusive and highbrow neighbourhood which is just a short distance from the Madinah Haramain Mosque.
Meanwhile, a cross section of clerics led by the Deputy Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Sheik Ibrahim Ahmed Makari prayed for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari and the nation’s economic while also enjoining Nigerians to eschew bitterness and hate speeches.
The prayer was held in major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, Bini, Tiv and Kanuri.