Nigerian Pilgrim Dies on Arafat During Hajj, NAHCON Confirms

A Nigerian pilgrim has tragically passed away on the sacred plain of Arafat during the 2025 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, confirmed the sad development to journalists shortly after the conclusion of the national prayer organized by the commission at Arafat.

“We received as a sad news that we lost one of our pilgrims today in Arafat, and the other one died before we left Mecca,” Professor Usman stated.

He clarified that the cause of death was natural and not linked to the extreme heat currently being experienced in the holy land, dismissing public speculation of a heat wave-related incident.

According to NAHCON protocol, the identity of the deceased will not be made public until the next of kin have been formally notified, out of respect for the family’s privacy.

The death marks a somber moment for the Nigerian contingent participating in this year’s pilgrimage, as the plains of Arafat represent a highly significant point in the Islamic rite—where pilgrims gather to pray and seek forgiveness.

Officials have assured that all necessary arrangements will be made in line with Islamic rites and Saudi regulations for the burial of the deceased.

This incident brings to light the physical and emotional challenges that often accompany religious pilgrimages, especially for the elderly and medically vulnerable.

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