Two Nigerian pilgrims participating in the ongoing 2025 Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, have been confirmed deceased. The fatalities include Adizatu Dazumi, a 75-year-old woman from Edo State, and Alhaji Saleh Galeh, a prominent businessman and Chairman of the Lokpanta Cattle Market from Abia State.
Both individuals reportedly died in separate incidents on Monday.
Saleh Galeh, described as a respected community leader and businessman, passed away peacefully while performing the sacred pilgrimage. A source familiar with the incident was quoted as saying, “He answered the call of Allah peacefully while performing the sacred pilgrimage.” Funeral prayers (Salatul Janaza) for the late Galeh were scheduled to be held on Tuesday, at the Haram Mosque in Makkah during the Zuhr (afternoon) prayer.
Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Calling Family (ICF) in Imo State, extended their condolences. The ICF noted that the Muslim community, in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission and the Abia State contingent, was working to ensure a proper and dignified burial for the deceased. In a condolence message shared on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, the ICF wrote: “One of the Abia State pilgrims has just answered the call of Allah. The Chairman of Lokpanta Cattle Market, Abia State, Saleh Galeh, passed last night, (Monday), here in Makkah. Abia State pilgrims are arranging for his Janaza now so that his Salatul Janaza will be observed in Haram during Zuhur prayer on Tuesday. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and accept him in Jannatul Firdaus.”
In a separate incident, Adizatu Dazumi, a 75-year-old pilgrim from Jattu Uzairue in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, died on Monday after a brief illness. Dazumi fell ill shortly after performing the Tawaaf (the ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba) and was admitted to the King Fahad General Hospital in Makkah on Sunday, where she passed away the following day.
Confirming the development, Musah Uduimoh, Chairman of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, stated, “She was buried in Makkah on the same day, according to Islamic tradition, and her family in Jattu Uzairue has been
