The
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria on Monday confirmed the death of 20
Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which occurred since the beginning of
this year’s Hajj.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji
Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat Stakeholders’ Meeting
at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
He said 14 pilgrims died due to cardiac
arrest and other ailments while six lost their lives in the September
11, 2015 crane crash.
Mukhtar said only three Nigerians were
injured in the September 11 crane crash, as against the six earlier
reported by the media.
The chairman said all the pilgrims that
submitted valid documents to the commission for visa were airlifted to
Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
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He also said that the security situation in the kingdom was very tight and advised pilgrims to be orderly and stay in Makkah.
He also advised pilgrims to drink more
water due to the harsh weather, adding that they should only expose
themselves to the sun when necessary.
He said female pilgrims should move in group and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.
On Arafat, the chairman said the
pilgrims would start moving to Mina on Monday at midnight and advised
them against climbing the roof of buses conveying them.
“We have resolved at a meeting with
clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authority to start
moving to Mina,’’ he said.
He warned clerics against inciting pilgrims against the resolution, adding that anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.
“Anyone who violates the decision of the
Ulama will be sanctioned. The commission has the power to sanction
anyone found wanting,” he stressed.
Title : 20 Nigerian pilgrims die in S’Arabia
Description : The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria on Monday confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which occurred since the ...
