NIGERIA'S DEATH TOLL IN HAJJ STAMPEDE RISES TO 54

Fifty-four Nigerians have been confirmed to have
died during Thursday’s stampede in Mina, Saudi
Arabia, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The confirmation was given by Alhaji Abdullahi
Mukhtar, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of
Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday at a news
conference in Makkah.
No fewer than 717 pilgrims died and 805 others
injured in the stampede when the pilgrims
trooped to perform the ritual of the symbolic
stoning of the devil.
Mukhtar said 61 other pilgrims were injured
during the incident.
He 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.
The chairman also said that out of the injured 61
pilgrims, 16 were transported by Private Tour
Operators and the remaining 45 by state Pilgrims’
Welfare Agencies.
He said the commission was still investigating to
ascertain the number and condition of some
pilgrims who have gone missing after the incident.
MuKhtar said the commission had set up three
committees to condole with the families of the
deceased, arrange befitting burial for the
deceased and to collate information from eye
witnesses.(NAN)