Ex-INEC boss, Jega’s brother killed in Saudi stampede

Even as officials of the country’s pilgrims’ board are still compiling the list of Nigerians involved in the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabi that killed over 700 people on Thursday, available information so far available suggest that least eight Nigerians may have died in the incident.

Among those who died in the stampede was a judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulkadir Jega, a brother to Prof. Attahiru Jega, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He was a member of Kebbi State Government delegation to the 2015 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Justice Jega’s body, according to reports, was found at a morgue in Mina.

The dead toll now stands at 725 with 863 injured.

Initial reports suggested that two Nigerians –Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, a prominent journalist, and Professor Tijanni El-Miskin , Chairman of the Borno State Pilgrims Welfare Board – were among the 719 killed while pilgrims were stoning the devil as part of the Hajj rituals.

Also killed in the incident are the wife and child of a university teacher, Professor Taqwa. Taqwa himself was said to be safe last night.

Also reported dead is Dr. Hafsat Shittu, a pharmacist from Kano.

Nigeria’s Amir Ul Hajj, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi and Iran have dismissed claims by the Saudi Arabia authorities that African pilgrims were largely responsible for the tragedy.

Read also: Tragedies: Saudi Arabia orders hajj safety review

Iran alleged that the convoy of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud caused panic among pilgrims which resulted in the stampede.

A top official of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said Nigeria’s death toll could be more than what was originally thought.

Many Nigerian pilgrims were missing as at press time with NAHCON directing all the states to “take immediate census of their pilgrims.”

A breakdown of the victims yesterday was as follows: Algeria(3 killed, 6 injured), Bangladesh( 4 dead); China (1 death); Egypt( 8killed, 20 injured); Turkey( 4 dead), Netherlands (1death); India( 4 dead, 2 injured); Indonesia(3 dead, 1 injured); Iran (131 dead, 60 injured); Morocco(87 dead); Nigeria (8 dead, 6 injured) Oman (5 injured) ; Pakistan (7 dead) and Sudan (1 dead, 2 injured); Unknown (558 dead, 761injured).

It was learnt that the identities of the unknown persons killed or injured were still being ascertained last night.

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