By Demola Akinyemi

Ilorin – About 400 Muslims from Kwara State are to perform this year’s Umrah (lesser Hajj) which kicked off yesterday  and ends Wednesday.

The Executive Secretary, Kwara Pilgrims Board, Imam Abdulkadir Shehu, who said this, weekend, at the inspection of the airplane billed for the exercise, noted that the exercise was contracted to Medview Airline which has concluded all arrangements to airlift the pilgrims direct from Ilorin to Jedda, first time since the creation of the state.

He also said  that all travelling documents for the trip have been secured for the
pilgrims, stressing that 220 out of the total figure of the pilgrims were self-sponsored.

He also said that series of enlightenment programmes were organised for the intending pilgrims to broaden their knowledge on the Hajj exercise, stressing that learned Islamic scholars and officials of the board have gone round all the local governments in the state to organise workshops for the intending pilgrims.

Sheu warned that stiff penalties await pilgrims who flout any of the instructions given.