Saudi stampede: Buhari orders headcount of Nigerian pilgrims

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered the National Hajj Commission and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently account for all Nigerian pilgrims in the holy land. The order, which was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, was as a result of last Thursday’s stampede at Mina which claimed over 700 lives. Shehu explained that the Presidential order was necessitated by the conflicting reports on the number of Nigerians who died or suffered injuries in the disaster. He said the President was concerned that days after the incident, some Nigerian families were still grappling with the painful uncertainty over the fate of their relatives who travelled to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj. The statement read in part, “The President expects the National Hajj Commission to work with the various state pilgrim boards, Islamic organisations and private travel agencies involved in Hajj operations to speedily provide a confirmed and verifiable report on the status of every Nigerian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia. “President Buhari has also directed the Hajj Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi the Arabia to give all necessary assistance to Nigerians who are still receiving treatment for injuries suffered in Mina. “He continues to pray that Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the dead, comfort the bereaved families, heal the injured and bring all surviving Nigerian pilgrims safely home.” Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday called for a thorough probe into the Hajj tragedy in which no fewer than 1,200 pilgrims were involved, including about 54 Nigerians died and 863 were injured. The tragedy occurred during a stampede at an Islamic event in Minna about two miles from Mecca, Saudi Arabia The event was one of the last rituals of the Hajj season, known as ‘stoning the devil.‘ NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, while condoling with the families of the bereaved and sympathising with the injured victims, said with such a high rate of death, the 2015 hajj ranks amongst the most tragic in recorded history of hajj. He said the organisation was shocked and completely at a loss by the extent of the losses this year. He therefore called for a thorough investigation on the calamity. He suggested that countries whose citizens died in the stampede should be members of the inquiry to ensure transparency. He called on the Saudi authorities to review their crowd control management techniques and administration of hajj generally. He called for urgent and best medical attention to the injured victims, amongst whom were about 61 Nigerians. The NLC boss stated that as painful as the incident was, the congress believed it was predestined. He said accordingly, the victims should be seen as martyrs who gave up their lives in worship. Wabba said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to commiserate with the families of the 767 Muslim faithful who died in a stampede on the way to Jamrat Complex (Stoning Site), Mina, Saudi Arabia. “Our special condolences go to the families and loved ones of 54 Nigerians who were among the dead. We pray for the repose and admission of their souls to heaven. “Managing a mammoth crowd, sometimes in excess of two million people during every annual pilgrimage, is no mean task and the Saudi authorities deserve some commendations certainly.” He added, “However, with over 1,200 deaths (earlier deaths caused by a crane mishap), the 2015 hajj ranks amongst the most eventful in recorded history of hajj. “We are shocked and completely at a loss at the extent of the losses this year. “Accordingly, we call for a thorough investigation of the two major incidents that led to these deaths. “For transparency and re-assurance, we urge that countries whose citizens perished in the two incidents be made members of the body of inquiry. “But most importantly, perhaps, time has come for the Saudi authorities to review their crowd control management techniques and administration of hajj, generally.”