Stampede: NAHCON wants Saudi Govt to involve affected nations in investigations

The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, on Friday, called on Saudi Arabia Government to involve Nigeria and countries affected by Friday’s stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia in investigations.
No fewer than 747 Muslims lost their lives and close to 900 others injured at the stampede on the road leading to Jamarat (stone throwing site).
Pilgrims from several nations participating at the ongoing pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia lost their lives at the stampede.
Mukhtar, who made the call at a news conference in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, said it was not fair for anyone to blame Africans participating at the pilgrimage for the fatal incident.
“At this time of electronic age and the close circuit cameras installed in Mecca and environment, the authority can easily know how the stampede started and who caused it,’’ he said.
He, therefore, urged the pilgrims to follow the timetable provided by Saudi authority to prevent similar incident.
Three Nigerians lost their lives although NAHCON officials said they had yet to verify the development from Saudi Government.