First batch of 560 Zamfara pilgrims air lifted to Saudi Arabia

File Photo: Illustrative purpose only

A first batch of 560 intending pilgrims from Zamfara state Friday left Gusau for Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise, the executive chairman , Zamfara Hajj Commission Alhaji Abubakar Pawa Dambo has said.

The pilgrims are from Bukkuyum, Tsafe, Zurmi, Bungudu and Kaura Namoda local government areas of the state.

Delivering his farewell speech, the deputy governor of the state Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad attributed the low number of intending pilgrims to insecurity in the state.

He then advised the intending pilgrims to pray for peace in Zamfara state and the country in general saying that they owe Zamfara state a responsibility in that direction.

"You should remember that a lot of brothers and sisters are longing for the Hajj exercise but cannot make it for one reason or the other. Therefore you should shun all forms of indecency during the exercise," he said.