At least 42 Nigerians pilgrims died in the Hajj stampede of September 24, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed.
The total death has released by the Saudi authorities 769 deaths and 934 injured persons.
Three days after the tragedy NACHON is still battling to ascertain how many Nigerians died and the number of those injured as some Nigerian pilgrims have not been located since the incident occurred last Thursday.
A source in Mecca who does not want to be named said about 40 Sokoto pilgrims were being looked for in the last few days.
The source said: “We have been compiling figures but we have not been able to arrive at a final figure. We are giving every missing person the benefit of doubt of still being alive.
“So far, we have lost close to 40 but I cannot tell you the number of those injured.
“From a local government in Sokoto State, we are still looking for 40 people, 72 hours after the stampede.
“We have directed State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and tour operators to conduct a census of all their pilgrims and search for the missing ones in order to determine those we have lost.”
Among those confirmed dead were a traditional ruler in Taraba State, the Panti Zing, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim ( who was the State Amirul Hajj) and two wives; the presiding judge of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega (who was a brother to the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega); Justice Musa Hassan Alkali of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, the Deputy Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Professor Tijani Abubakar El-Miskin; renowned Editor, Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf; a pharmacist, Dr. Hafsat Shittu; the wife and daughter of Prof. Yaqwal of the Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto; three indigenes of Offa from Kwara State who performed the Hajj through some state pilgrims welfare boards.
It was learnt that the Kebbi State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Argungu, Alh. Samaila Mera, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and his deputy, and members of Governor Atiku Bagudu’s family were among the survivors of the stampede.
Other survivors were a former National Chairman of PDP, Alh. Adamu Mu’azu, the PDP Youth Leader, Abdullahi Maibarisa, the Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, and an Assistant Editor with The Sun, Alh. Akeeb Alarape.