Nigerian pilgrim returns missing foreign currencies in Saudi Arabia

A Nigerian pilgrim, Alhaji Abba Sa’ad Limawa, has returned a combined sum of $800, SR690 (Saudi Riyal) and RR10,500 (Russian Rouble) which he found during Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Limawa, a Jigawa born pilgrim, was said to have recovered the lost hard currencies in a mini bag on his way to Haram (Holy Mosque) to observe his daily prayers.

He said, “I found the money in a bag on my way to the holy mosque in Makkah but my thinking then was that the bag belonged to one of our female pilgrims from Jigawa because we all live in the same accommodation.

“So, I picked the bag and I resolved that when I return from mosque I will ask our female pilgrims about the owner. When I went to my hotel accommodation, I decided to open the bag. What I found was foreign currencies.

“At that moment, I decided to call our Public Relations Officer to discuss the matter with him. After the meeting, he directed me to DG, Jigawa Pilgrims Board to discuss the issue. During our conversation, I told him how I recovered the money and I cannot keep the money with me.

“The DG then asked me to keep the bag with me, that Allah knows my mind. So I kept the money till the end of Hajj activities. Later the DG called me and we both met with NAHCON officials. After our meeting, they collected the bag from me and said they would investigate and find who owns the money for onward return. At that point, my mind was at rest that the entire process was transparent.”

When further asked whether he wasn’t in need of money and the reason he had decided to return the lost wealth, the Jigawa pilgrim responded, ” Of course, every human is in dire need of money but you can’t take what does not belong to you. Remember we are all in holy land where we are expected to be devoted to fear of Allah.”

Unveiling the exceptional character from Jigawa State yesterday, at the post-Arafah stakeholders meeting held in Makkah, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Mal. Jalal Ahmed Arabi, applauded the national ambassador.

Presented by Jigawa State Executive Secretary, Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alh. Ahmad Umar Labbo, for national recognition, the commission said Limawa has made Nigeria pride.

In 2023, a Zamfara State pilgrim, Hajiya Aisha Nahuche, came to limelight after she returned $8, 000 found during Hajj, a similar gesture that demonstrated an exceptional character of Nigerian pilgrims in the holy land.