Saudi Arabia probes very tragic Hajj stampede, death toll hits 747

Saudi medics attending to the injured

Saudi medics attending to an injured victim

The Saudi Authority on Friday said it would set up a committee to investigate the causes of Mina stampede.

More than 747 Muslims lost their lives while 804 others injured in the stampede on the road leading to Jamarat (stoning site) on Thursday.

Three Nigerians, Bilikisu Yusuf, a veteran journalist, Professor Abdullahi Tijjani El-Miskin, an Islamic scholar and Hafsat Shittu, a pharmacist, were reported to be among those that died in the stampede.

Prince Mohammed bin Naif, who directed the formation of the committee after a meeting with top hajj security officials, said findings of the committee would be submitted to King Salman bin Abdulazaiz.

He said that the authority would not hesitate to address reasons for the stampede whatever the cost may be.

He also assured the public that the country would also provide measures to ensure safety and security of pilgrims always, especially during hajj.

Meanwhile, security personnel have started removing pilgrims’ tents at the site of the stampede to create space for easier access to Jamarat.

“As you see, the space is very small, we need to facilitate transportation. We did not remove all the tents, but some of them must be removed,’’ a security officer in Mina said, pleading anonymity.

Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, the Chairman, National Hajj Commision of Nigeria (NAHCON), has called on the Saudi authority to involve Nigeria and countries affected by Friday’s stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

No fewer than 747 Muslims lost their lives and 805 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 install in Mecca and environment, the authority can easily know how the stampede started and who caused it,’’ he said.