Wednesday 30 September 2015

Saudi stampede: Kwara records four deaths


The first batch of Kwara State pilgrims to Saudi Arabia arrived the Ilorin International Airport on Tuesday.


Four of the pilgrims reportedly died in the Mina stampede, while about 10 others are still missing.


Some of the pilgrims were seen shedding tears while recounting their experience with relations at the airport‎.


An official of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), who craved anonymity, said that four pilgrims from the state were confirmed dead in the stampede.


The NAHCON official said the first batch arrived with 580 and 413 main and hand luggage.


A former Head of Service in Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako, who was among the first batch of 499 pilgrims that arrived spoke to journalists in Ilorin.


He said, “The incident occurred in Mina when pilgrims after stoning the devil met others who were going to perform their own stoning on the same direction. This resulted in stampede.


“I even knew somebody, a Kwara pilgrim staying very close to me. I didn’t see him again maybe he died or went missing I didn’t know. ‎But I learnt that three people died from Kwara State. These three people, I learnt two of them were sick and aged before going for the Hajj.”


 





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