Six Nigerian pilgrims die at ongoing to Hajji in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

six Nigerian pilgrims die at ongoing Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia No fewer than six Nigerians have died at the ongoing Hajj in the holy ...

six Nigerian pilgrims die at ongoing Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia


No fewer than six Nigerians have died at the ongoing Hajj in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This was made known by the Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mohammed.
He announced the death of five Nigerians on Tuesday in Makkah, which is Mecca in English. It is not clear at this time the identities of those killed or the circumstances surrounding their death.


Muslims performing the Hajj in Mecca

Mohammed who spoke at the 2017 pre-Arafat meeting with Hajj stakeholders declined to give the identities of those killed and the circumstances surrounding their death insisting that such information would only be released after their families have been appropriately informed of the tragic incidence.
He urged the media not to release details of the incidence in order not to further devastate the affected families of the pilgrims.

Another pilgrim from Kwara state was declared dead by an official on the medical team of NAHCON. Nigeria is sending a total of 81,200 pilgrims to this year’s hajj holding in Mecca. They were reported to have prayed at Prophet Mohammed’s mosque in Medina.

Other Nigerians joined their fellow Muslims and pilgrims from nearby Jeddah. The pilgrims have also performed the rites of Umrah, the lesser hajj, at al-Masjib al-Haram situated at the Kabah. Incidences of deaths of pilgrims have become a yearly occurrence. Every year hundreds of pilgrims die from various incidences in Mecca such as overcrowding and particularly during the symbolic stoning of the devil from stray stones and stampede.


The Saudi authorities have often apologized for previous deaths but it appears these pilgrims may have to sacrifice their lives every year in order to fulfill one of the core demand of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, which includes a visit to Mecca at least once in the life span of every Muslim who can afford it.