The Lagos State government has disclosed that one of its pilgrims to this year's hajj, Alhaji Idris Afolabi, has died of renal failure in Saudi Arabia.

Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr Babatunde Balogun, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday, saying: "All efforts to fly him home proved abortive because of the stringent laws in the country."

The pilgrim, who came from Lagos Mainland, died last Wednesday before the completion of the basic hajj rites which include the climbing of mountain Arafat and Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Balogun said since the death of Afolabi last Wednesday, he had been kept in the mortuary until he was buried Tuesday according to Muslims rites.

He said that prayers were offered for the repose of the deceased's soul in one of the mosques in the country.

Afolabi was said to have come to Saudi Arabia with his wife, who was around when her husband was buried in the holy land.