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Pilgrims defy hot weather, ascend Mount Arafat for hajj rites
Pilgrims defy hot weather, ascend Mount Arafat for hajj rites
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims crowded Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat on Tuesday, the climax of a potentially record-breaking hajj pilgrimage held in fierce summer heat.
As dawn broke, groups of worshippers recited Koran verses on the rocky rise, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon.
The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions.
More than 2.5 million pilgrims were expected to join the hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and a source of legitimacy for the oil-rich country’s royal rulers.
Temperatures soared to 46 degrees celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Monday as robed worshippers shielded by umbrellas journeyed from Mecca to Mina, where they slept in a giant tented city before the rites at Mount Arafat.
Egyptian schoolteacher Tasneem Gamal said she was emotionally overwhelmed to arrive at Arafat, whose rituals are a compulsory part of the pilgrimage.
“I cannot describe my feelings, I am living a great joy,” the 35-year-old woman said.
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Gamal is performing the hajj without a male guardian, a requirement that was shelved by Saudi authorities until 2021.
This year, a maximum age limit has also been removed, giving thousands of elderly the chance to attend.
Tuesday provides the biggest physical challenge, as pilgrims will spend hours praying and reciting the Koran on Mount Arafat and in the surrounding area amid high temperatures.
Unlike Mecca, dotted with hotels and malls, and the tents of Mina, air-conditioned shelter is scarce.
As helicopters buzzed overhead, entry roads were packed with worshippers. Thousands of health workers were on alert for cases of heat stroke and exhaustion.
The heat risk will be highest from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, when outdoor labour is banned in Saudi Arabia between June and September to protect workers.
After sunset, pilgrims will travel the short distance to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, to sleep in the open air.
The following day, they will gather pebbles and hurl them at three giant concrete walls in the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual.
The last stop is back at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, where they will perform a final circumambulation of the Kaaba, the giant black cube that Muslims worldwide pray towards each day.
Heat is not the only risk at hajj, which has seen multiple crises over the years, including militant attacks and deadly fires.
In 2015, a stampede killed up to 2,300 people. There have been no major incidents since.
Before heading to Arafat, American engineer Ahmed Ahmadine said he felt “blessed” to be able to take part in the pilgrimage.
“I try to focus on praying for my family and friends, ” said the 37-year-old.
“This is an opportunity that will not be repeated.”
Pilgrims defy hot weather, ascend Mount Arafat for hajj rites
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Soldier, four others killed in Benue during suspected cultists clash
Soldier, four others killed in Benue during suspected cultists clash
Four people, including a soldier, were reportedly killed by suspected cultists in the North Bank area of Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday and Friday.
Local sources revealed that the victims, including two young men and a soldier, were attacked late Friday night.
Another individual, believed to be a cultist, was killed in his home on Thursday.
Chairman of the vigilance group Operation Shara, Nura Umar, stated, “The soldier and two boys were innocent victims attacked by suspected cultists. The incidents occurred near the BIPC area.”
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However, police spokesperson Catherine Anene confirmed only one civilian death, adding, “Operatives have been deployed to address the situation.”
The area has seen a surge in rival cult clashes in recent weeks, raising concerns over public safety.
Soldier, four others killed in Benue during suspected cultists clash
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Ndume tells Bwala to beg Shettima for forgiveness over Muslim-Muslim ticket outburst
Ndume tells Bwala to beg Shettima for forgiveness over Muslim-Muslim ticket outburst
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Daniel Bwala, the newly appointed Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, to apologize to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement, Ndume attributed his plea to Bwala’s earlier criticism of Shettima’s selection as Tinubu’s running mate, a decision that led to Bwala’s exit from the APC over concerns about the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
It should be recalled that Bwala, previously a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, recently joined Tinubu’s team after being a vocal critic of the ruling party’s decision to present two Muslim candidates for the 2023 presidential election.
Bwala resigned from the APC in July 2022, condemning the party’s choice of Shettima as insensitive to Nigeria’s secular principles. At the time, he publicly opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket, sparking significant debate.
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In his statement, Ndume said, “I wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Daniel Bwala as his Special Adviser on Public Communication and Media. This gesture deserves serious applause, particularly in view of the roles played by Bwala in the recent past.”
Ndume praised Tinubu’s appointment as a move towards inclusivity and reconciliation, urging Bwala to work closely with Vice President Shettima. “You should work with the Vice President closely as your second principal to promote the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President,” Ndume advised.
He also encouraged Bwala to follow the example of key Tinubu allies such as Sunday Dare, Hadiza Bala Usman, and Bayo Onanuga, emphasizing the need for constructive advocacy. “These individuals defend and market Tinubu’s policies backed by facts and figures without being abusive or offensive. Bwala should adopt a similar approach,” Ndume stated.
Highlighting the importance of grassroots connection, Ndume added, “Charity begins at home. You must connect with the grassroots to ensure the administration’s message resonates with the people. I wish you success in your new assignment.”
Ndume tells Bwala to beg Shettima for forgiveness over Muslim-Muslim ticket outburst
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Supreme Court sacks Remo monarch in Ogun State
Supreme Court sacks Remo monarch in Ogun State
The Supreme Court in Abuja has affirmed Oba Olatunji Kalejaiye’s removal from the throne, the Nloku of Iraye in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Apex court’s decision affirmed an earlier order of the Appeal Court asking Kalejaiye to stop parading himself as the Nloku of Iraye.
In the Supreme Court ruling delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Aba Aji, the Apex Court granted the application to strike out Kalejaiye’s appeal for lack of diligent prosecution, as prayed.
“Appeal number SC/CV11112022 is at this moment struck out for lack of diligent prosecution,”’ the Supreme Court ruled to end the embattled monarch’s troubled reign as Nloku of Iraye.
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The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State had in September 2022, halted the reign of the deposed Nloku of Iraye, Oba Kalejaiye, while ruling on the case (Appeal No: CA/1B/255/2015 Suit No: HCS/65/2019, an appeal filed by Kalejaiye against his deposition in 2015 by a State High Court sitting in Sagamu.
The Justices of the Appeal Court, led by Hon. Justice Moore A. A. Adumein, ruled that “the appeal lacked merit and is hereby dismissed. The Judgment of Hon. Justice Olugbenga Ogunfowora is hereby affirmed.”
Speaking on the Supreme Court judgment, Pa Olu Salau, head of the Sugbada royal family appreciated the Justices for doing justice to the matter brought before them in a brilliant, comprehensive, and incisive manner. He urged all parties in the dispute to accept the judgment as the will of God and the wishes of the good people of Iraye.
Supreme Court sacks Remo monarch in Ogun State
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