Our thoughts are with the hundreds of pilgrims who were involved in the 2015 Hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia.
We did not realise the magnitude of the loss that the Nigerian contingent suffered in the unfortunate incident until the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, commission in charge of the Hajj operations in the country, came out with the statistics. According to the commission, 355 Nigerians were involved in the Mina stampede out of which 99 were confirmed dead and 42 injured.
It should be noted that about 769 pilgrims from across the world lost their lives in the stampede in one of the roads leading to Jamarat Complex (stone-throwing site) in Mina, Saudi Arabia. About 1000 others were reportedly injured, according to online media, Amebo.
Further information credited to NAHCON’s commissioner in charge of information, research and library services, Dr Saleh Okenwa, shows that 214 Nigerian pilgrims were still missing. However, Okenwa told newsmen that investigation was ongoing to ascertain their whereabouts.
Two hundred and fourteen Nigerian pilgrims are still missing apart from the 99 confirmed dead and 42 injured. This is on the high side and should be considered a national tragedy! In the course of the stampede, could some of those missing Nigerian pilgrims have strayed into Saudi Arabia desert? Or could some of them have mingled with the dead of the other nations, especially from Africa? We sincerely hope they will eventually be found alive hale and healthy.
We understood from the interview granted to one of the Nigerian survivors that the stampede was partly caused by exhaustion and dehydration suffered by some of the victims as a result of long distance trekking in a hot weather with little or no water to refresh them. Also, the pilgrims returning from the Jamarat Complex were said to be facing the incoming pilgrims instead of being diverted to another route once the stone-throwing rites had been performed. It was also revealed through an eyewitness account that the water-bearing poles that were erected along the route were not opened on time to refresh the pilgrims and reduce the effect of hot weather on their bodies. And obviously, the security personnel who were supposed to direct the mammoth human traffic were overwhelmed.
It is in the light of the above that we strongly recommend to NAHCON that preference should be given to first- timers in future Hajj operations. Those who have performed Hajj more than once should give opportunity to the first timers so as to reduce the crowd. Instead, they can seek further spiritual fulfilment /obligations in lesser Hajj which they can do when the crowd of worshippers is much less. This measure should be taken in addition to ensuring the medical fitness and state of health of the intending pilgrims by NAHCON.
Apart from nature’s effects on the pilgrims which could be mitigated, some of the matters arising dwell on logistics and security. The co-operation of NAHCON and other related bodies from other countries will help their host, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to make room for better arrangement and execution to safeguard lives.
These untimely deaths of pilgrims are unwarranted and should be avoided in future through better logistics and better coordinated arrangements in future.
Once again, we express our heartfelt condolences to the Federal Government of Nigeria and other nations whose nationals were involved in the unfortunate incident.
Gbemiga Olakunle JP
General Secretary, National Prayer Movement, Abuja
gbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk
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