A FEMALE intending pilgrim from Taraba State has died in Yola, Adamawa State, just hours before her scheduled departure for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
News Point Nigeria reports that the deceased, identified as Hajiya Dado Hammadu from Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, reportedly fell ill shortly after arriving at the Yola International Airport alongside other intending pilgrims ahead of the airlift to Saudi Arabia.
The Information Officer of the Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hamza Baba Muri, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust during a telephone interview.
According to Muri, the late Dado Hammadu took ill on Sunday night and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, where she died a few hours later.
He disclosed that she was buried in Yola on Monday morning with the consent of her family members.
Muri further stated that the deceased was among the 415 pilgrims scheduled to be airlifted in the first batch of Taraba State’s 2026 Hajj operations on Monday, May 11, 2026.
According to him, the funeral prayer was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Muslim Pilgrims Affairs, Alhaji Hamman’Adama Tukur; the Chairman of the Yola International Airport Committee, Malam Jamal Abdul’nasir; staff of the Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board; as well as hundreds of intending pilgrims billed for the first flight.
Meanwhile, Daily Trust had earlier reported the death of another Nigerian pilgrim, Mallama Aishatu Muhammadu, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia days after arriving for the Hajj exercise.
The 73-year-old woman from Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State reportedly suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on Saturday while travelling from Jeddah to the holy city of Madinah.
