A pilgrim from Kano State, Shu'aibu Jibrin, has died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, just 24 hours before the commencement of the 2025 Hajj rites.

The Kano State Pilgrim Welfare Board's spokesperson, Malam Suleiman Dederi, confirmed that Jibrin passed away on Tuesday following a sudden illness that required hospitalization.

A relative of the deceased, Sama'uddin Aliyu Kadawa, who is also performing the pilgrimage, provided further details about the tragic incident while speaking to journalists in Makkah.

"He was okay when he left home. After he became ill, he was admitted to King Abdulazeez Hospital for two days and was discharged after his health improved," Kadawa explained.

"Unfortunately, his condition worsened again yesterday, and he was rushed back to the hospital. Despite the efforts of our Nigerian doctors and the medical team at the hospital, he passed away around 2:50 a.m.," he added.

According to Aliyu, the late Jibrin was a farmer from Gargai in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State. He had a medical history of ulcer and hypertension, though Saudi doctors determined that cardiac arrest and heart failure were the immediate causes of death.

The incident occurs as thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are preparing for the official commencement of the 2025 Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

In a related development, the 15th Emir of Kano has cancelled the traditional durbar celebration for this year's Eid festivities, though details regarding this decision were not immediately available.