Some pilgrims on Wednesday, May 29, blamed the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB) for the death of a pilgrim in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
The pilgrims accused the board of insensitivity to their plight.
Oloshogbo Isiaka Idris lost his life on return from Tawaf (circumambulation) of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.
The 68-year-old pilgrim from Somolu local government was reported to have died while eating in the evening (after Solat Maghrib).
The deceased has been buried in Makkah.
A board member, Waheed Ololade Shonibare led other state government officials and some pilgrims to observe Janaza for the pilgrim in Kaabah.
The pilgrims accused the board of renting a building far from Haram (Holy Mosque) despite knowing that going to haram is a major requisite of Hajj rites.
“While other states that are not as big as Lagos State got buildings near Haram, Lagos couldn’t. We have elderly people who cannot walk long distances. Many of these old people trekked a long distance to Haram after about eight-hour journey from Madinah,” a pilgrim from Agege said.
Another pilgrim said the negligence of the board’s officials led to the man’s death.
According to her, the man was gasping for breath for over a hour with no ambulance to take him to the hospital.
“We kept calling and crying for medical personnel; no one could attend to him. What happened to all those medical officers that came with the state to hajj? We know everyone would die at the appointed time, but not out of negligence by those who are supposed to take care of the pilgrims,” she said.
Another pilgrim said: “The Somolu man who lost his life yesterday was also part of the negligence on the part of the board officials. The hotel’s Air condition was not working despite the excessive heat in Saudi Arabia. He needs a comfortable environment. People had to fan him with paper. Too bad that we lost him.”
It was learnt that another pilgrim was rushed to the hospital yesterday.
The board’s Secretary, Saheed Onipede, admitted that the pilgrim’s death could not be unconnected with high blood pressure (BP) and the stress he passed through during the tawaf.
He extended the condolences of the state government to the immediate family and friends of the deceased.
Onipede appealed to other pilgrims to exercise caution and restrain from overstressing themselves before the commencement of the real Hajj rites which are yet to be fulfilled.
