Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
September 28, 2015 – The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has said that no one among Lagos contigent that travelled to Mecca for the Hajj died in the stampede.
The 2015 Amir-ul- Hajj for the State, Hon Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who stated this recently, said no single pilgrim from the state was missing when a head count was done at all the tents sheltering the over three thousand pilgrims from Lagos State in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
At least 769 people died and over 800 injured in a stampede during the major rite of stonning the Devil in Mecca. So far, the National Hajj Commission has confirmed that 54 Nigerians were among those who died in the stampede.
“It was said by Saudi Authorities that the Nigerians that were involved are from the northern part of the country. However Iran, Pakistan and other Arab countries have the major casualties”.
While lamenting the loss of lives at Jamarat, the Amir Ul hajj prayed that the Almighty Allah will grant the dead Aljana firdous as well as grant the victims’ family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In another development, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NACHON) has commended the State Government for the organization of this year’s Hajj while applauding the pilgrims for comporting themselves in an orderly manner throughout the pilgrimage.
Giving the commendation over the weekend when he visited the pilgrims at the Lagos House in Saudi Arabia, the South West Commissioner of NACHON, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi said, “this year’s Hajj operation is better than past years, it has really improved and I can say, ‘Lagos is getting better’ “.
The airlifting of the pilgrims for homeward journey will commence on the 1st of October and end on October 6, 2015.
