Kaduna Hajj agency clears air on animal sacrifices, vows compliance

The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has assured pilgrims that their mandatory animal sacrifices, known as Hadaya, were completed as required during the Hajj.

Salihu Abubakar, the agency's Executive Chairman, issued the clarification in response to complaints from some pilgrims who alleged that the sacrifices were not performed despite their payments. The Hadaya rite, a mandatory part of Hajj, involves the slaughtering of animals on behalf of pilgrims on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah.

Abubakar stated that the names of all pilgrims who paid through the agency have been posted at their accommodation in Saudi Arabia. He urged any pilgrim with proof of payment whose name is missing to come forward for investigation. A total of 827 pilgrims paid for Hadaya through the Kaduna agency before departing Nigeria, with an additional 47 payments made through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and 54 paid for in Saudi Arabia, bringing the total to 928 pilgrims and a value of 668,160 Saudi Riyals.

The agency identified a few discrepancies, primarily related to payments made via Point of Sale (POS) terminals, which did not immediately reflect the pilgrims' names in their records. However, Abubakar confirmed these issues have been resolved, and the affected pilgrims' records have been updated. He reiterated the agency's commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring that they are upholding the trust placed in them by Governor Uba Sani.

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We cross-checked the receipts with our records and discovered that those affected made payments through POS platforms, and the transactions did not immediately reflect their names.