Abuja – The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that three
Nigerian pilgrims sustained minor injuries in the crane crash in Mecca’s Grand Mosque
in Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of the commission, Mallam Abdullahi Mukhtar, who made this known at a
news conference in Abuja, said that the victims were responding to treatments in the
Holy land.
Mukhtar, who did not name the victims, however, said that two were from Kaduna and
one from Gombe.
He expressed deep shock over the sad incident but assured that it would not affect
this year’s exercise in any way.
Media report had said that103 people were dead and over 200 people were injured in
the incident.
“On the commission’s part, we have advised the various states pilgrims’ board not to
allow their pilgrims to go close to the Grand Mosque for now.
“They have adhered strictly to our directive and it is yielding positive results,’’ he said.
Mukhtar also disclosed that 53,800 pilgrims had so far been transported to Saudi
Arabia as at Saturday.
He promised that the remaining prospective pilgrims would be transported to the Holy
land before the deadline of Sept. 18.