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THE death toll among Nigerian pilgrims to Mecca may have risen to 34. The figure, according to agency reports, was obtained from daily medical statistics released by Akisha Hospital, Al-Nur Hospital, Zahir Hospital and Ta'if Hospital, all in Mecca.
THE death toll among Nigerian pilgrims to Mecca may have risen to 34. The figure, according to agency reports, was obtained from daily medical statistics released by Akisha Hospital, Al-Nur Hospital, Zahir Hospital and Ta'if Hospital, all in Mecca.
Last week, the National Amirul Hajj, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, had put the death toll at five, describing it as the least in recent years.
However, an official of the Nigerian medical team, who preferred anonymity, admitted to reporters yesterday in Mecca that over 74 deaths were recorded among the black population during the period of the Hajj exercise.
The official said that although the nationalities of the dead pilgrims could not be immediately ascertained, "many of the dead could be Nigerians."
"These pilgrims could not be properly identified because they did not wear their identity cards," he said.
"Some were missing persons rushed to the hospitals by good Samaritans."
Scores of pilgrims also lost their lives during a flood disaster caused by a heavy down pour in Mecca on Arafat day.
Many Nigerian pilgrims, especially women who are yet to be transported back home after this year's Hajj, have resorted to selling their belongings to feed themselves.
The pilgrims usually sell their belongings at give-away prices, an option they considered as more honourable than begging.
Many of the affected pilgrims have loads weighing between 100kg and 150kg as against 50kg officially approved by the Hajj National Mission.
At the weighing centres, the pilgrims were forced to reduce their luggage to about 40kg with the excesses being taken to cargo aircrafts where 10 Saudi riyals, about N400, is charged per kilo.
The Borno State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Adamu Dibal, described the shopping spree of Nigerians as "ridiculous and embarrassment to Nigeria."
"Even the Saudis know the shopping pattern of our people," Dibal, who is also the state Deputy Governor, lamented.