The last batch of Kwara pilgrims, who had joined other Muslims across the world to perform this year’s hajj and had left Saudi Arabia , returned to Ilorin on Wednesday.
The pilgrims numbering 328 arrived at the Ilorin International Airport via Max Air at 1.17am.
The pilgrims arrived in Ilorin along with officials of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, including the chairman, Dr AbdulKadir Sambaki.
All the pilgrims who were in high spirit were received by their relations who had kept vigil all night at the airport to welcome them home from the holy land.
Two of the pilgrims, who spoke with Global Excellence ; Alhaja Sherifat Shade AbdulKareem of The Herald Newspaper and Alhaja Ramata Bukola Olesin of the Ministry of Education, Ilorin, thanked God for granting them a successful pilgrimage.
They also thanked the state government and officials of the pilgrim’s board for ensuring their welfare while in the holy land.
Chairman of the state pilgrim’s board, Dr AbdulKadir Sambaki thanked God for making the hajj operation hitch- free.
Sambaki also praised the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support for the board which he said helped greatly in ensuring a smooth hajj operation right from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The chairman, who expressed delight that nothing untoward happened to any pilgrim from the state while in Saudi Arabia, commended the pilgrims for being good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria in the holy land.
-Akinlolu Abayomi
