A senior Bauchi State government official has died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, while performing the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The news has sent a wave of grief across the state.
Shehu Yahaya Jalam, the Permanent Secretary for Special Services in the Office of the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, May 17, 2026. He had fallen ill shortly before his death.
Jalam, who bore the respected traditional title of Turakin Dawakin Misau, was among the official Bauchi State delegation that travelled to Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj exercise.
The state government broke the news through a formal statement released on Sunday by Mukhtar Gidado, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bala Mohammed.
In the statement, the government described the loss as one that cuts deep not just for the family, but for the entire state civil service.
"The Government and people of Bauchi State have received with deep sorrow the news of the death of Alhaji Shehu Yahaya Jalam," the statement read, noting that he passed away in Makkah after a brief illness while participating in the Hajj.
Those who worked closely with him say Jalam was more than a bureaucrat, he was a man who showed up fully for every assignment.
The government described him as a dedicated, loyal, and hardworking civil servant who gave his life and energy to the service of Bauchi State.
According to the statement, he played key roles in coordinating previous Hajj operations and handled other sensitive government assignments with distinction.
His death, the government noted, leaves a void that will be hard to fill.
"His passing is a great loss not only to his family and colleagues but also to the entire Bauchi State Government and the wider community who benefited from his commitment, humility, and sense of duty," Gidado stated.
Funeral prayers for the late permanent secretary were held on Sunday, conducted after the Zuhr prayer at the Holy Mosque of the Ka'aba in Makkah, a setting that many Muslims consider a profound honour.
Governor Bala Mohammed has since extended heartfelt condolences to the deceased's immediate family, colleagues at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the Office of the Head of Civil Service, as well as the Misau and Dambam Emirate Councils.
The governor also prayed for God's forgiveness of Jalam's shortcomings and asked that he be granted Aljannatul Firdaus, the highest paradise in Islamic belief while urging the family to find strength in faith during this difficult time.
.jpeg)
0 Comments