The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has airlifted the fourth batch of 558 intending pilgrims from the state to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Sunday.

This brings the total number of pilgrims and officials from Kwara to 2,083, including nine representatives from the Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON).

A statement by the Board's Press Secretary, Jumoke Jimoh, confirmed that one state official accompanied the latest batch. The update was issued in Ilorin on Sunday.

While addressing the pilgrims before their departure, the State Amirul Hajj, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Barrister Ismail Bolaji Yahaya, urged them to be exemplary ambassadors of the state and the country at large while in the holy land.

Also, the Chairman of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Prof. Mahmood Jimba, prayed to Almighty Allah to grant them a safe trip and accept their acts of worship.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary urged the pilgrims to obey the rules and regulations guiding their stay in the foreign land by avoiding negative tendencies that could bring disrepute or tarnish the image of the state and Nigeria at large.

The pilgrims departed the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a Max Airline flight, which took off at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday en route to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the remaining intending pilgrims are expected to depart on Monday, according to the airlifting schedule.