Dead Saudi Pilgrims

Nigeria is close to admitting that 356 of its citizens perished  in the 24 September stampede during the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

From 222 dead admitted two weeks ago, Nigeria has already ballooned the figure by 87, to bring it 309, with 47 still declared missing.

The 47 missing, going by precedents may well be counted among the dead, which will bring Nigeria’s dead to 356.  What remains to be done is to identify the missing through DNA tests, said an official of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

Sokoto and Kano states recorded the highest number of casualties, according to a report this morning by  Daily Trust.

As at 18 October, the Nigerian death toll was 199 with Sokoto and Kano states losing 79 and 20 pilgrims, respectively. Sokoto also accounts for the highest number of those missing at 59.

The commission will on Monday in Abuja hold a high-level stakeholders meeting involving officials of the ministries of health and foreign affairs, board members of the commission, zonal coordinators and other relevant stakeholders on the modalities for the DNA testing of family members of those declared missing.

The Head of Medical of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Dr. Ibrahim Kana said  the DNA analysis that would be carried out in Nigeria would provide identities for everyone, adding that the DNA kits collected from the Saudi authorities will be used on relations, while the DNA analysis would be conducted in Riyadh.

Other states affected in the stampede are Adamawa, Borno, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara who lost pilgrims between one and seven for the dead