RAMOTA Bankole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader in Lagos State reportedly succumbed to the extreme heat in the holy land of Saudi Arabia while performing the Hajj exercise.
Bankole, a dedicated party leader and former Welfare Secretary, will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Alhaja Bankole, who was said to have celebrated her 60th birthday recently, is one of the over 900 pilgrims killed by the intense heatwave in Saudi Arabia during this year’s hajj.
Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Seye Oladejo, described the late Bankole as a committed member of the party.
“Her death is most shocking and unfortunate. She was a committed and experienced party leader.
“The deceased was a proven mobiliser and inspiration for women’s participation in politics. May her precious soul be in peace,” Oladejo said.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government, Ms Surah Animashaun, had on Thursday confirmed Bankole’s death. The late Bankole hailed from the Epe division of the state.
Animashaun, in a statement, said that the deceased was hale and hearty before leaving the country for the Hajj pilgrimage.
She said: “It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that I received the news of the death of Alhaja Ramota Bankole.
“It is a sad day indeed as I received the news that she died in the holy land of Mecca while on holy pilgrimage.
“I extend my condolences to the Bankole family, APC members and the entire people of Epe on the unfortunate demise of our dear sister and mummy.”
Meanwhile, over 900 pilgrims died from heatwave during the five-day activities for the 2024 Hajj.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the scorching heat in Saudi Arabia led to deaths among at least 600 Egyptians.
While putting the total figure at 922, according to a tally, it said many old and infirm, took part in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage, held this year during the oven-like Saudi summer.
“Relatives scoured hospitals and pleaded online for news, fearing the worst after temperatures hit 51.8°C in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, on Monday.
“Facebook and other social media networks have been flooded with pictures of the missing and requests for information.”
It said in addition to Egypt, fatalities have also been confirmed by Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, though in many cases authorities have not specified the cause.
Despite reports that over 900 pilgrims died during the hajj pilgrimage in Muna, Makkah, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has stated that only three Nigerians died during the period.
Speaking during the post-Arafat meeting in Makkah, NAHCON’s Head of Medical Team, Abubakar Adamu Ismail, said the low number was recorded due to adequate preparation.
While stating that 17 pilgrimage heat strokes were recorded during the period, he said they were able to be resuscitated due to their closeness to Nigeria’s hajj camp.
“If the patients had the diagnosis in Jamarat, which is about three Kilometers from the camps, they would have died.”
He added that two pregnant women had miscarriages during the period with 25 cases of severe dehydration and five cardiac arrests.
Speaking earlier, NAHCON’s Head of Aviation, Eng. Mohammed Goni Sanda said the outbound flight to Nigeria will begin on 22 June with Kebbi State pilgrims.
He said the return flights will be based on First-in-first-out with three flights scheduled daily, which will subsequently increase to four, five and six flights daily.
On his part, the Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Ahmed Arabi, said preparations for the 2025 Hajj have commenced.
He urged states’ pilgrims’ welfare board to end preparation for the 2025 Hajj by September to enable it to have knowledge of the number of pilgrims that will participate in the exercise.
Eighteen-Eleven Media