Edo Pilgrims Return Home After Successful 2026 Hajj Exercise
By Abdulmumin Aliu
Edo State Muslim pilgrims have returned to Nigeria after successfully completing the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard Air Peace flight P47941, which departed Jeddah at 5:30 a.m. on June 22, conveying 90 Edo pilgrims alongside contingents from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Rivers State.
Their return formed part of the ongoing airlift operations coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
According to the commission, as of June 21, a total of 35,713 Nigerian pilgrims had been transported back to the country through 90 return flights.
The figure includes UMZA Flight UY3560, which departed Jeddah for Kano at 9:16 p.m. carrying 453 pilgrims from Kano State.
The Edo delegation was led by the Amirul Hajj, Mallam Ali Sulayman, Oghieaga of Ivbies, alongside the leadership of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, including its Chairman, Mallam Musa Muhammad Uduimoh, and the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Eranga Abdulkabir Muhammadkabir, who supervised the welfare and activities of the pilgrims throughout the exercise.
Speaking shortly after arrival, officials expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for a successful pilgrimage and the safe return of all pilgrims.
They also commended the Edo State Government and NAHCON for their support and commitment to ensuring a smooth and hitch-free Hajj operation.
The Amirul Hajj praised the exemplary conduct of the Edo contingent during their stay in Saudi Arabia, noting that the pilgrims demonstrated discipline and strict adherence to the rules and regulations guiding the Hajj exercise.
He urged the returning pilgrims to sustain the virtues of patience, sacrifice, obedience, and devotion acquired during the pilgrimage, stressing that the true essence of Hajj lies in applying its lessons to everyday life.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board, Mallam Musa Muhammad Uduimoh, and the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Eranga Abdulkabir Muhammadkabir, thanked the pilgrims for their cooperation throughout the exercise and prayed for Allah to accept their Hajj and supplications offered in the holy land.
The successful return of the pilgrims marks the conclusion of the 2026 Hajj exercise for Edo State, with families, friends, and well-wishers receiving them with joy and gratitude upon their arrival home.
