54 Nigerians killed, 61 injured in deadly stampede at the Hajj in Saudi Arabia

At least 54 Nigerians perished in Thursday’s stampede in Saudi Arabia, in which over 717 pilgrims from around the world, died.

The chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Abdullahi Mukhtar, confirmed the total tally for Nigeria at a press conference Monday.

He said the dead are from Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Nasarawa states.

Others are from Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.

Mr. Mukhtar however said some pilgrims were missing, meaning the numbers could rise. He did not give the number of those unaccounted for.

He said two committees had been set up by the commission and the hajj leadership to take care of burial arrangements.

Another committee to be headed by the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration will collect information from survivors and witnesses on causes of the stampeded, he said.