By
Jamilu Abubakar
The Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has returned excess luggage left behind in Saudi Arabia during the 2026 Hajj operation to affected pilgrims in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, disclosed this while addressing pilgrims and officials during the distribution of the recovered luggage in Gombe. He explained that the excess luggage resulted from additional bags brought by some pilgrims while preparing to board flights back to Nigeria after completing their Hajj rites. He added that the belongings were later repackaged into 13 bags for ease of transportation, with each bag weighing 23 kilograms.
Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan said the issue arose when some Gombe pilgrims attempted to travel with luggage that exceeded the approved airline baggage limit during their return journey from Saudi Arabia.
According to him, airline operators strictly enforced baggage regulations and seized the excess luggage because some pilgrims carried bags above the approved weight limit, leading to the items being left behind at airports in Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Secretary explained that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, later requested various state pilgrims welfare boards to intervene and facilitate the return of the affected luggage to their rightful owners.
He stated that the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board took responsibility for paying for the transportation of the luggage back to Nigeria to ensure that affected pilgrims recovered their belongings.
Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan said owners of the luggage have been invited to collect their items but would be required to provide details of the contents of their bags to prevent cases of mistaken collection.
He commended the cooperation of the pilgrims and assured them of the Board’s continued commitment to protecting their welfare.
Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, however, warned intending pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj exercise to strictly comply with approved baggage regulations, stressing that excess luggage would no longer be tolerated.
The Executive Secretary urged future pilgrims to adhere to the official eight-kilogram baggage limit approved by airline operators to avoid similar inconveniences during future Hajj operations.
