Hajj stampede: Kano confirms death of 16 pilgrims

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board said on Monday that 16 of its pilgrims had so far been confirmed dead during the recent stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, The Public Relations Officer of the board, disclosed the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

“As I am talking to you know, 16 of our pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead in the stampede in Mina,’’ Badamasi said.

He said the deceased had since been buried in the Holy land as requested by their relations.

On the number of Kano pilgrims that have so far been transported back home, the public relations officer said 1, 700 pilgrims had returned.

He said the pilgrims who were transported back by Max Airline in three flights were from 10 local government areas of the state.

“The pilgrims that so far returned home are from Municipal, Gwarzo, Karaye, Kiru, Rogo, Shanono, Tudun Wada, Doguwa, Kura and Bunkure local government areas,’’ he said.

Badamasi said the fourth flight carrying about 530 pilgrims were already on their way to King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, for their onward journey to Nigeria.

He commended Max Air for keeping to its flight schedules since the commencement of the return transportation exercise, and urged the company to sustain the tempo.