By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
The Director General, Sokoto state Pilgrims Welfare Agency(PWA), Alhaji Ibrahim Umar has confirmed the arrival of no fewer than 4,859 pilgrims from the state for the 1438AH Hajj exercise in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Umar, whom reports said made the disclosure in Makkah on Tuesday also confirmed that, pilgrims from the state were hale and hearty.
He however said only one female pilgrim who lost her passport at the Sultan Abubakar III international Airport, Sokoto, was left in Nigeria.
” Her fate would however be decided by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), after the conduct of the ongoing hajj exercise.”
He said that the agency and the state government’s delegation led by Justice Bello Abbas, the State Chief Judge, had concluded arrangements to conduct a successful hajj exercise.
The Director-General also disclosed that, the agency has set up nine different committees, to ensure the effective and successful conduct of the hajj exercise.
He said the committees include a six-member Hajj tribunal chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Kabiru A. Umar.
The director-general further stated that the tribunal was set up to ensure that the pilgrims conduct themselves within the law.
” The tribunal will prosecute any erring pilgrim, to serve as a deterrent to others, ” Alhaji Ibrahim Umar,urged.
He urged the pilgrims to be law abiding and strive to positively project the image of the State and Nigeria in general
