APC mourns as prominent party chieftain dies in Mecca during Hajj

The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of its Welfare Secretary, Alhaja Ramota Bankole.

Bankole, who was a prominent women leader from the Epe area of the state, passed away while performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Alhaja Bankole died during the Hajj pilgrimage, an event which has seen an overall death toll exceeding 1,000 this year, partly due to extreme heat conditions.

Seye Oladejo, the Publicity Secretary of Lagos APC, described her death as “most shocking and unfortunate.”

Oladejo highlighted Bankole’s commitment, experience, and role as an inspiration for women’s participation in politics.

“May her precious soul rest in peace,” he added.

The death toll from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage has surpassed 1,000, with many of the deceased being unregistered worshippers who endured the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi’s National Meteorological Centre reported temperatures as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Earlier in June, two pilgrims from Kwara State, Salman Alade and Ayishat Ologele, also died while performing the pilgrimage.

Their deaths followed those of two other pilgrims, Saliu Mohammed and Hawawu Mohammed, reported in Madinah.