Saudi Deploys Special Teams to Locate Missing, Hospitalized Pilgrims
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia has deployed special field teams across Makkah and the holy sites to identify hospitalized and missing pilgrims during the ongoing Hajj operations.
The directorate disclosed that the teams have been assigned to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and strategic locations around the holy sites to support efforts aimed at reuniting missing pilgrims and verifying the identities of patients receiving medical treatment.
According to the Saudi authorities, the operation is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Nusuk Care initiative under the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The directorate explained that the teams are equipped with modern mobile technologies that enable officials to verify the identities of patients and missing individuals directly at their locations.
It added that reports relating to missing pilgrims and unidentified patients are being coordinated through the Hajj and Umrah command and control center headquartered in Makkah.
Meanwhile, concerns have heightened over two Nigerian pilgrims who reportedly went missing while heading to Jamarat during the Hajj rituals.
The missing pilgrims were identified as Suleiman Salamatu Lami and Rahmatullahi Usman, both of whom travelled for Hajj with Family Travel.
According to information released by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Suleiman Salamatu reportedly collapsed on the way to Jamarat, prompting Saudi medical personnel to intervene and provide emergency medical assistance.
Rahmatullahi Usman was said to have stayed behind during the emergency situation, but both pilgrims later became separated and have since been unreachable. Their current whereabouts remain unknown as of the time of filing this report.
Family members and officials have appealed to pilgrims and members of the public with useful information regarding the missing Nigerians to urgently contact the following numbers: 08065446575, 0536878214, or +234 803 598 334.
Authorities urged pilgrims to remain vigilant and cooperate with ongoing efforts to identify and reunite missing individuals during the Hajj exercise.
