The Muslim community worldwide and the rest of the world is still in shock over the number of Muslim faithful trampled to death on Thursday near Mecca, Saudi Arabia as they came to fulfill their religious duties.
A number of Nigerian Muslims were among those crushed to death in what has been described as the worst tragedy to strike the annual haj pilgrimage for 25 years.
One notable Nigerian who lost her life in the haj stampede is a journalist and Northern Nigeria’s first female editor Bilkisu Yusuf.
Former federal minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili is among those especially hit by the demise of Hajiya Yusuf.
She tweeted her grief early Friday morning: “The sadness of Mecca tragedies know
no bounds. Our sister, one of the most brilliant voices 4 Girl-Child, Bilkisu Yusufu died. TOO SHOCKING!”
Ezekwesili added: “Yusuf was an extraordinary woman & professional. A distinguished journalist who gave plenty RESEARCH & VOICE to the GIRL CHILD. SAD.”
Ezekwesili ended her series of tweets on the demise of Yusuf by noting that she “attained heights that she direly wanted the GIRL CHILD to surpass through society’s COLLECTIVE ACTIONS. What a most PAINFUL LOSS!”
Bilkisu was also a columnist for Daily Trust and LEADERSHIP newspapers. She was a founding member of several NGOs, including Women In Nigeria (WIN), the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and Advocacy Nigeria, where she was the executive director. (News Express)