*Photo: Alhaji Hassan*
Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON) Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has commiserated with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over Monday’s attack on some intending pilgrims from Sokoto State by bandits.
This was disclosed in a press statement on Wednesday by Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs of NAHCON, who added that “Alhaji Zikrullah reminded state chief executives that safety of the pilgrims and their escorts are their primary responsibilities consequently it should be taken with extra dedication.”
Hajia Usara said in the statement that “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has sent a condolence letter to the government and people of Sokoto state over bandits’ attack on pilgrims from Isa local government travelling to Sokoto for take-off to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj. The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday, June 20, 2022 where three security escorts lost their lives. All intending pilgrims in the convoy however escaped safely from the attempted kidnap.
“In his letter to the Sokoto state Governor, Rt Hon. Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, NAHCON’s Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan joined the government in this moment of grief and prayed the Almighty to assist the federal and state governments in ending the bloodbath and all forms of atrocities being perpetrated in the country.
“Alhaji Zikrullah lamented the unfortunate situation and prayed for the repose of the souls of gallant men that sacrificed their lives in the incident. He also prayed for their families to have strength to bear the loss.
“Meanwhile, the NAHCON Chairman in a postmortem meeting with Secretary of NAHCON’s Central Security Committee (CSC) instructed the CSC to intensify collaboration between them and state governments ostensibly to safeguard pilgrims wherever they are in the country. He also cautioned other states of the federation to reinforce security around pilgrims’ camps and their movements. Alhaji Zikrullah reminded state chief executives that safety of the pilgrims and their escorts are their primary responsibilities consequently it should be taken with extra dedication. The NAHCON helmsman pledged that the Commission is ever ready to support the states in any way possible in the discharge of this all important task.”