BY News Agency
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday said 20 Nigerian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of this year’s Hajj.
Abdullahi Mukhtar, chairman of the commission, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat stakeholders meeting at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
He said 14 pilgrims died due to cardiac arrest and other ailments, while six lost their lives at the September 11 crane crash.
Mukhtar said only three Nigerians were injured in the crane crash as against the six earlier reported in the media.
The chairman said all the pilgrims that submitted valid documents to the commission for visa were airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
He also said that the security situation in the kingdom was very tight and advised the pilgrims to be orderly during their stay in Makkah.
He also advised the pilgrims to drink water often as a result of the harsh weather, adding that they should only expose themselves to the sun when necessary.
He said female pilgrims should move in group and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.
On Arafat, the chairman said the pilgrims would start moving to Mina on Monday at midnight and advised them against climbing the roofing of buses conveying them.
“We have resolved at a meeting with clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authority to start moving to Mina,” he said.
He warned clerics against inciting pilgrims against the resolution, adding that anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.
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