No fewer than 56 Nigerian pilgrims died in the Hajj stampede last week.
About 77 others were injured. Many are still missing.
The figures were released last night at a news conference in Makkah by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukhtar.
The briefing, which was delayed because of consultations with the nation’s Consular Office in Makkah, marked the first official confirmation of Nigeria’s death toll.
The NAHCON chief said most of the victims and the injured came from the North.
Some of the affected states are Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba, Zamfara, Ogun
Mukhtar said: “42 pilgrims under the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards have been confirmed dead alongside two officials from NAHCON. Also, 12 pilgrims who came in through tour operators died in the stampede too.
“I think 61 state pilgrims welfare boards and 16 from tour operators (Private Hajj Operators) got injured in the stampede. We will update you as the information comes.”
On the missing pilgrims, he said:”We cannot give you the full figure until the ongoing head count is concluded.”
