By Soliu Oyesiji
A top Bauchi State official participating in the 2026 Hajj exercise, Alhaji Shehu Yahaya Jalam, has died in Makkah after a brief illness.
Jalam, who was the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Information and Publicity Committee for the 2026 Hajj Operation, reportedly died at Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah at about 2:00 a.m. Saudi time on Saturday.
Confirming the development, the Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris, described the death as a major loss to the Bauchi State Government and the state’s Hajj contingent.
“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. With total submission to the will of Allah, we announce the passing of Alhaji Shehu Yahaya Jalam,” Idris said in a statement.
He prayed for Allah’s forgiveness and eternal rest for the deceased, while also asking for strength for his family, colleagues and members of the 2026 Hajj team.
Jalam was in Saudi Arabia as part of the Bauchi State delegation overseeing the welfare and information needs of pilgrims during the Hajj exercise.
