A Nigerian woman, Aisha Ahmed, who went on pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, has died after a brief illness.

Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board Idris Al-Makura, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the deceased who hails from the state, had no record of ailment before departing Nigeria.

“The deceased had no medical history at the time of departure to the Holy Land and we are together in Madinah. The pilgrim took ill two days ago.

“She was first taken to the National Hajj Commission’s Hospital in Makkah and later transferred to the King Abdulaziz Hospital where she passed on. The family was duly informed of the death.

“We sent the family a video recording of the process of her death confirmation, to the funeral rites and finally, the burial,” he said.

Since 2015, at least 61 Nigerian pilgrims have died in the Middle East country. Figty-four Nigerians died in a stampede when pilgrims converged at a junction in Mina, near Mecca, eight years ago.

This year, over 43, 000 Nigerian pilgrims are participating in the annual pilgrimage made by Muslims to the holy city of Mecca for the week of Hajj.