2016 Hajj:Deaths of 18 Nigerians lowest in 5 years, NAHCON says

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has revealed that 18 Nigerians died in Saudi Arabia in the just concluded 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The commission however noted that the record of 18 deaths was the lowest the country has had in the last five years.

According to it, the victims were from Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba, Niger, Kaduna states and Abuja. It added that, there were foreign-based Nigerian pilgrims as well.

The head of NAHCON’s medical team, Ibrahim Kana, who made this disclosure, said two pilgrims, including a 40-year-old woman, died in Madinah. Three died in Muna, while 13 died in Makkah including a mentally ill woman.

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He said the number of deaths reduced this year as a result of improved sanitation, better medical awareness and compressed team of medial national medical officials. He said the medical team carried medical check-ups and treatments on over 21,000 patients from the beginning of the hajj rites.

He frowned that some women were detected to be pregnant by the medical team, regardless of repeated warning against pregnant women coming to Hajj.

Many who travelled for 2016 Hajj started returning home on Saturday after its completion stage got 95 per cent.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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