Mecca Stampede: More Nigerians Confirmed Dead

The Sokoto state government has announced that 9 of its pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead in the stampede that occurred on ‎Eid Day in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Recall that 5 Nigerian pilgrims who are from Gombe state have been declared missing in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defense directorate has said not less than 717 people have died following a stampede in Mecca as some African nationals have been blamed for the stampede that left over  850 terribly injured.

Government officials, led by the state Amirul Hajj and Leader of Delegation, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, is said to working round the clock to identify many of the pilgrims who suffered various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatments ‎in different hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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“At this moment of grief and sober reflection, the state government urges all citizens to remain calm and intensify prayers as we await further confirmation from authorities concerned.

 “Further statement will be made as more information become available.May God bless the souls of those who died and may His healing ‎be visited upon all the injured. May God console us all,” the state said in a statement signed by Malam Imam Imam, Spokesman to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

 

It is recalled that the Hajj season has already been marred by an unfortunate crane accident in which over 100 people were killed and dozens severely injured.

At least six Nigerians were involved in the Saudi crane incident at the Holy Mosque, Ka’aba, in Mecca on Friday, September 11. Ahmed Umar, Nigeria’s consul-general to Saudi Arabia, said the dead pilgrims were buried in a “specially designated cemetery’’ in Mecca.

 

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