The last batch of pilgrims from Kwara State, who performed this year's hajj in Saudi Arabia, have returned to Ilorin early Wednesday morning.

The pilgrims numbering 328 arrived the Ilorin International Airport aboard Max Air at 1.17am.

The pilgrims arrived alongside all the officials of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, including the chairman, Dr AbdulKadir Sambaki.

All the pilgrims, who were in high spirit, were received by their families and relations, who had kept vigil all night at the Airport to welcome the pilgrims back home from the holy land.

Two of the pilgrims, who spoke with LEADERSHIP, Alhaja Sherifat Shade AbdulKareem of The Herald Newspapers, and Alhaja Ramata Bukola Olesin of the Ministry of Education, Ilorin, thanked God for granting them a successful pilgrimage.

They also thanked the state government and officials of the pilgrims board for looking after their welfare while in the holy land.

Chairman of the state pilgrims board, Dr AbdulKadir Sambaki, thanked God for making the hajj operation hitch-free.

Sambaki also praised the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his support for the board, which he said helped greatly in ensuring a smooth hajj operation right from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The chairman, who expressed delight that nothing untoward happened to any pilgrim from the state while in Saudi Arabia, commended the pilgrims for being good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria in the holy land.