Mohamed Garba
In a powerful display of honesty during one of the world’s most sacred journeys, a Nigerian pilgrim has returned a missing $5,000 to its rightful owner at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Hajiya Zainab, a pilgrim from Plateau State in Nigeria, found the sum—equivalent to about ₦8.2 million—inside Masjidul Haram and promptly reported it to authorities, who later traced it to a Russian pilgrim.
The Plateau State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have publicly commended her for what they called an extraordinary act of integrity.
“She demonstrated exceptional integrity and honesty by returning $5,000 she found in Masjidul Haram to its rightful owner. That’s a remarkable act of kindness,” said Daiyabu Dauda, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Pilgrims Board, in a statement released Wednesday.
The incident has drawn admiration across the Nigerian and wider Muslim community, with many saying Zainab’s actions serve as a reminder of the spiritual essence of the Hajj pilgrimage—a time for reflection, sacrifice, and moral uprightness.
In a separate development, NAHCON has disclosed it is in active talks with Saudi authorities about reopening the visa process for Nigerian pilgrims. The move could allow more intending pilgrims to participate in this year’s Hajj under a new arrangement.
Fatima Usara, Assistant Director of Information at NAHCON, said the commission remains optimistic.
“There is optimism for a positive outcome, and when that is realised, the commission will immediately transport the registered pilgrims for the Hajj in another special arrangement,” she said in the same statement.
Usara also confirmed that some staff members are already on standby should the visa window be reopened.
As negotiations continue, the story of Hajiya Zainab stands out—not just as a personal act of honesty, but as a moment of hope and principle in the heart of the pilgrimage season.
