SAD! 19 Hajj pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia, 17 missing – Report

Published

7 months ago

June 17, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

No fewer than 19 Jordanian and Iranian pilgrims have died while on the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, authorities from their countries said on Sunday, as temperatures soar in the kingdom.

“Fourteen Jordanian pilgrims died and 17 others were missing” during the performance of hajj rituals, Jordan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

AFP reports that the ministry later confirmed that the 14 died “after suffering sunstroke due to the extreme heat wave.”

Iranian Red Crescent Chief, Pirhossein Koolivand, separately said “Five Iranian pilgrims have lost their lives so far in Mecca and Medina during the hajj this year,” without saying how they died.

The hajj, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings, is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means must perform it at least once.

Temperatures have pushed well past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during the annual pilgrimage that around 1.8 million Muslims are taking part in this year.

Many of the rituals are performed outdoors and on foot, creating challenges, especially among the elderly.

However, the kingdom has implemented heat mitigation measures, including climate-controlled areas. It distributes water and offers advice to pilgrims on protecting themselves from the sun.

Two pilgrims from Kwara State, Salman Alade and Ayishat Ologele, reportedly died while on pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The PUNCH reports that the pilgrims were among the thousands of Nigerians who travelled to the holy land to perform the Hajj pilgrimage

Their deaths followed that of two other pilgrims – Saliu Mohammed and Hawawu Mohammed – whose cases were reported in Madinah.

The report took the death toll among the Kwara pilgrims to four.

During last year’s hajj, at least 240 people – many from Indonesia – died, according to figures announced by various countries which also did not specify causes of death.

According to AFP, more than 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded last year, 10 per cent of them heat stroke.

A Saudi study said regional temperatures were rising 0.4 C each decade, and worsening heat may be outpacing mitigation measures.

Port Harcourt refinery: NNPCL disowns recruitment notice

Published

1 hour ago

January 19, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has disclaimed a purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), warning the public against falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

In a statement released on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening, the oil company clarified that no separate recruitment process was ongoing for PHRC beyond the one initiated in 2024.

The statement, titled “NNPC Ltd Disclaims Purported Recruitment Announcement for PHRC,” was signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has urged members of the public to discountenance purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) circulating in certain online platforms,” the statement read.

NNPC Ltd further explained that its recruitment process, which commenced last year, covered all its subsidiaries, including PHRC. The company noted that candidates who passed the Computer-Based Aptitude Test were proceeding to the interview stage.

“The purported recruitment link being circulated in various online platforms is the handiwork of fraudsters who are keen on taking advantage of the newly revamped Port Harcourt Refinery to fleece unsuspecting members of the public with a phantom recruitment announcement. We, therefore, call on members of the public to be wary of the ploy and not fall for it,” the statement warned.

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Hajj 2023 refund: Pilgrims from Adamawa get N61,080 each

Published

1 hour ago

January 19, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Adamawa State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Commission has disbursed N61,080 to each of the 2023 pilgrims from the state over poor services rendered to them by the service providers while in Saudi Arabia.

The executive secretary of the pilgrims commission, Malam Abubakar Salihu, disbursed the refunded money, saying it was a step of accountability.

The disbursement was paid into the account of the pilgrims or, for those without account numbers, through the local government schedule officers of the 21 local governments of the state.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Shuaibu Musa Mele appreciated the commission for ensuring that each pilgrim gets his rightful refund.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had earlier refunded money through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, for sharing among the 36 states of the country.

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Security operatives destroy Bello Turji’s food storage facility

Published

2 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A school building in Fakai village, reportedly used as a food storage facility by the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, has been destroyed.

The facility, which had been stocked with large quantities of food supplies, was completely razed, leaving the structure in ruins.

According to local sources, the school was repurposed by the bandits to support their operations in the region.

It served as a key logistical hub for storing essential supplies, ensuring the group’s ability to sustain its activities over time.

The destruction of the stockpile is seen as a major setback for Bello Turji’s network. By eliminating a critical resource hub, the operation is expected to disrupt the group’s supply chain and hinder their ability to operate effectively in the area.

Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama reported that the incident underscores ongoing efforts to counter the influence and operations of bandit groups in the region.

Residents of Fakai village and surrounding areas hope this effort signals further strides toward restoring peace and security.