Reports have it that at least, 5 Nigerian pilgrims have been declared missing in Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims who are from Gombe state could not be located since Thursday, September 24.
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.
According to the Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Usman Gurama, he said he cannot confirm whether they were among those who died as a result of Thursday’s stampede at the Jamaarat (stone throwing venue) where over 700 pilgrims died.
He said members of the medical team had been checking hospitals and mortuaries searching for the pilgrims.
He however confirmed that seven pilgrims from the state were injured at the scene of the incident and were responding to treatment.
Emergency teams and ambulances seen at the scene of the crain collapse. Credit: AP
In a related development, Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, today Saturday, September 26, gave the state pilgrims Saudi Riyals 585,300 (about N32.7 million) as Sallah gift.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), each of pilgrims had 300 Saudi Riyals (N16, 800). Dankwambo urged them to pray for President Muhammad Buhari to enable him deliver the dividends of democracy.
He commended the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Amirul Hajj team for doing a good job.
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.
Source: Naij
An ambulance drives towards the camp city at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood
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.
According to the Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Usman Gurama, he said he cannot confirm whether they were among those who died as a result of Thursday’s stampede at the Jamaarat (stone throwing venue) where over 700 pilgrims died.
He said members of the medical team had been checking hospitals and mortuaries searching for the pilgrims.
He however confirmed that seven pilgrims from the state were injured at the scene of the incident and were responding to treatment.
Emergency teams and ambulances seen at the scene of the crain collapse. Credit: AP
In a related development, Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, today Saturday, September 26, gave the state pilgrims Saudi Riyals 585,300 (about N32.7 million) as Sallah gift.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), each of pilgrims had 300 Saudi Riyals (N16, 800). Dankwambo urged them to pray for President Muhammad Buhari to enable him deliver the dividends of democracy.
He commended the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Amirul Hajj team for doing a good job.
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.
Source: Naij
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