The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukhtar has updated the number of Nigerians who died in the recent Hajj stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia to fifty-six.
At a news conference in Makkah last night, Mukhtar said: “Forty-two pilgrims under the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards have been confirmed dead alongside two officials from NAHCON. Also, Tweleve pilgrims who came in through tour operators died in the stampede too.
“I think sixty-one state pilgrims welfare boards and sixteen from tour operators (Private Hajj Operators) got injured in the stampede. We will update you as the information comes.”
On the missing pilgrims, he said: ”We cannot give you the full figure until the ongoing head count is concluded.”
Mukhtar also noted that at least 77 Nigerians sustained injured ranging from very serious to minor in the tragedy.