The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Dr Ibrahim Kana, has said that the number of Nigerian pilgrims who died while performing the 2019 Hajj in Saudi Arabia had risen to nine.
Kana disclosed this in Muna on Monday while briefing journalists on the activities of the medical team of NAHCON for the pilgrims.
Kana said, “The deceased, a Lagos State pilgrim, collapsed at Jamrat and was brought to the hospital in Muna but died, she was hypertensive.”
Speaking with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Muna on the issue earlier, the Lagos State Amir Hajj, Alhaji AbdulLateef Abdulkarim, had identified the deceased as Alhaja Folashade Lawal.
He said that the late Lawal hailed from Oshodi Local Government Area of the state, noting that she slumped at 3am while heading to Jamrat to throw stones at the devil.
Throwing stones at the ‘three devils’ is one of the Islamic rites towards acceptable hajj.
The chairman of the team said that the commission opened 21 field offices in Muna with adequate drugs and ambulances.
He identified cough and hypertension as some of the health challenges presented by patients.
NAN correspondent, who visited the Nigerian camp in Muna reported that many pilgrims, mostly women, were seen buying women wears and other gift items they claimed were meant for their families and friends at home.
Others, however, devoted their time to accomplishing the remaining rites such as throwing stones at ‘the three devils and special prayer.
Pilgrims, who will spend three days to accomplish religious rites in Muna were expected to move to the Grand Mosque, Makkah on Tuesday to complete the remaining rites to ensure an acceptable hajj.
According to NAHCON, it had fixed August 17 for the kick-off of the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.