Hajj Tragedy; 56 Nigerians dead, 61 injured

 

At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca

Reports coming in from Saudi Arabia, says 56 Nigerians pilgrims died during the stampede, and 61 others, were injured.

According to ThisDay Newspapers, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhtar revealed this yesterday, after a meeting with Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia.

ThisDay also reports that the figure could be higher, because some Nigerians have not yet been accounted for. Reports say that the states who lost pilgrims are Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Jigawa, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Lagos and Yobe.