Hajj 2026: Nigerian Pilgrim, 70, Dies in Makkah Ahead of Hajj

May 15, 2026

The Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has confirmed the death of Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, a Nigerian pilgrim who passed away after falling ill in Makkah.

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Key Takeaways

Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, 70, from Keffi, Nasarawa State, died in Makkah after a brief illness despite receiving medical care
Her Janazah prayer was held at Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) before she was laid to rest at the Makkah cemetery
The board’s Executive Secretary has urged all remaining Nigerian pilgrims to report any health symptoms to medical teams without delay

Hajiya Rukayya Haliru, a 70-year-old Nigerian pilgrim from Keffi Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, has died in Makkah ahead of Hajj 2026.

The Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board broke the news through its Executive Secretary, Mallam Idris Ahmad Almakura, who spoke to journalists in Makkah.

What Happened

Hajiya Rukayya fell ill shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia. She was admitted to a health facility, where medical personnel worked to stabilise her.

She died in the early hours of the morning despite those efforts. Mallam Almakura described her death as a huge loss to the board, the state, and the entire Muslim community.

Burial in Makkah

Board officials and family members present in Makkah oversaw the handling of her remains.

Her Janazah prayers were led by Imam Faisal Jamil at Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque), after which she was buried at the Makkah cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.

A relative who witnessed the process in Makkah, Abdulwab Aboki, thanked the board for how it handled the situation.

He said the family would pass on the full details of the burial to relatives back home in Nasarawa State.

Health Warning for Remaining Pilgrims

Mallam Almakura used the occasion to call on all Nigerian pilgrims still in Saudi Arabia to take their health seriously.

He asked them to report any signs of illness immediately to the medical teams travelling with the state’s contingent.

Nasarawa State sent 1,600 pilgrims for the 2026 exercise, with the state’s contingent among the first to be airlifted to the holy land following the inaugural national Hajj flight on 3 May.

The board passed its condolences to the Nasarawa State government, Hajiya Rukayya’s immediate family, and its own staff.

Maisah

Maisah is a Muslimah and journalist for The Islamic Information based in Indonesia. Studying Law at Maritime University of Raja Ali Haji. She believes in the power of words and hopes that her articles will positively impact all of her readers.