Hajj Tragedy: Amosun, Aregbesola Commiserate With Deceased’s Families

OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has commiserated with the families of pilgrims who died in Thursday’s stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.
The governor, who is also performing this year’s hajj, expressed his deepest condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); and Kashim Shettima (Borno), whose pilgrims fell victims of the tragic incident.

Similarly, his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has sent condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede.

In a press statement signed by the Secretary to the (Ogun) State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, in Abeokuta yesterday, the governor described the deaths as “regrettable, especially when they could have been avoided.”

While urging pilgrims across the world to always observe codes that would engender incident-free pilgrimage, Amosun called on the Saudi authorities to further improve safety measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The governor wished those who sustained injuries speedy recovery.

Aregbesola, in a in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, described the incident as unfortunate but one that happened according to the will of God.

Gov. Aregbesola

The statement said the government has established contact with the Osun delegation in Saudi Arabia confirming that no pilgrim from the state was affected.

The statement said: “This incident is very unfortunate. We send our heartfelt condolences to the states whose indigenes are affected.
“Our sympathy also goes to the families of the affected pilgrims. We also commiserate with the entire Muslim Ummah across the world and pray that Allah gives the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.”