TheCable

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Thursday said 355 Nigerians were involved in the stampede at Saudi Arabia and that 99 of them have been confirmed dead.

Saleh Okenwa, NAHCON’s commissioner of information, research and library service, disclosed this to journalists in Mecca.

Okenwa also said that 214 pilgrims were still missing, adding that investigation was ongoing to ascertain their whereabouts.

He gave the breakdown of the 355 pilgrims involved as 99, dead, 42, injured and 214 missing as at October 7.

He also said that of the 99 deceased pilgrims, 73 were transported by state pilgrims welfare agencies, and 26 by tour operators.

Okenwa said the 42 injured pilgrims comprise 41 transported by the state pilgrims’ welfare boards and one by tour operators.

He also said 194 Nigerians of the 214 pilgrims missing, were airlifted by the state pilgrims’ welfare agencies, and 20 by tour operators.

Okenwa said only seven of the 42 injured pilgrims were still on admission.

The Saudi authorities put the death toll at 769 but some officials from the countries involved, said over 1, 000 pilgrims died in the worst disaster to hit the annual pilgrimage in 25 years.

On Thursday, AP said its count showed that 1, 360 persons lost their lives in the incident.