Hajj Stampede
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Thursday confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims, 42 injured and 214 others missing in the recent stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Thursday confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims, 42 injured and 214 others missing in the recent stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.
The total number of Nigerians pilgrims affected in the stampede were 355, the commission further revealed.
According to the Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information
and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told
reporters in Makkah on Thursday that the total number of Nigerians
affected in the incident was 355.
He however insisted that those missing cannot be declared dead, since
identification of those affected were still being collated by the Saudi
Arabia health authorities in conjunction with Nigerian and other health
officials.
He further gave the breakdown of the victims as 73 deaths from the
state pilgrim welfare board, agencies and commissions, while the
remaining 26 were from the tour operators.
“Those injured were 42, 41 from the state pilgrims and one from tour
operators. The numbers of missing from the states were 96 males, 94
females and four males who were officials, totaling 194, while 10 males
and 10 females were missing from the tour operators. Of those injured
only seven remain in the hospitals on admission and receiving treatments
and others were discharged,” Okenwa said.
When asked on the fate of the missing if there were hope that they can
be found alive, the commissioner said: “In the early days people
expressed hope but the hope is weaning. We cannot declared those missing
as dead since there is no evidence to state that they have been
confirmed dead."
Culled from Thisday
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