Six Nigerian pilgrims have been confirmed dead in the crane accident in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Friday. The spokesman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOW) Mr Uba Mana however stated that investigation has commenced on the matter.
A pilgrim from Kaduna State, Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu Kargi from Kubau local government has been confirmed as one of Nigerian pilgrims that died on Friday crane accident in Mecca.
Four other pilgrims were also declared missing yesterday though it is not clear whether their disappearance was due to the accident.
A crane being used for the expansion of the grand Mosque collapsed last Friday killing 108 pilgrims who are within the precinct of the Ka’aba when the accident happened.
The accident also injured 238 pilgrims according to the spokesperson of the Kingdom on the Affairs of the two holy mosques, Ahmad Al-Mansouri.
Meanwhile the spokesman of the Kaduna State Task Force on Hajj, Saidu Adamu said yesterday in Mecca that the death of Kargi has been confirmed by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
Speaking earlier, the Gombe State Amirul-Hajj Abdullahi Mai-Kano also said that four female pilgrims from the state were missing after the incident.
He said the missing pilgrims are from Akko, Dukku and Nafada local governments of the state and that this was after thorough verification from the three houses accommodating the state pilgrims, adding that one other female pilgrim injured was treated and discharged.
Chairman of NAHCON, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed had on Saturday in Abuja confirmed that three Nigerians sustained injuries in the incident.
The accident occurred when a pillar from one of the construction sites of the ongoing expansion of the mosque collapsed after a heavy rainfall preceded by strong wind and massive storm after pilgrims had observed the Asr (late afternoon) prayer.