CONFIRMED: 54 Nigerians died in hajj stampede

Fifty-four Nigerians have been confirmed to have died during Thursday’s stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

According to NAN, the confirmation was given on Monday by Abdullahi Mukhtar, chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), at a press conference in Makkah.

He also said 61 pilgrims were injured during the incident.

Mukhtar said 42 of the deceased pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia by state pilgrims’ welfare agencies, while 12 came through private tour operators

He said the deceased were from Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba, and Zamfara.

Mukhtar said the commission was still investigating to ascertain the number and condition of some pilgrims who have gone missing after the incident, adding that the commission had set up three committees to condole with the families of the deceased.

At least 769 persons died and 934 sustained injuries in the stampede that ensued when pilgrims trooped to perform the ritual of the symbolic stoning of the devil.