Number of Nigerian pilgrims killed in Haj stampede rises to 64

Abuja: The official toll of Nigerian Haj pilgrims who died in the stampede last Thursday in Saudi Arabia rose to 64 after ten more bodies were identified on Tuesday, an official said.

National Haj Commission of Nigeria spokesman Uba Mana, who confirmed the figure to Xinhua news agency, said 244 Nigerian pilgrims are still missing following the incident.


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The official said 10 more pilgrims from Nigeria were injured in the stampede bringing the number of injured to 71.

Nigerian authorities on Monday declared 54 Nigerians dead in Mina.

Among the deceased Nigerian pilgrims, 46 were transported to Saudi Arabia by provincial pilgrims’ welfare agencies while 18 others embarked on the pilgrimage through private tour operators, the Nigerian official said on Tuesday.

The deceased pilgrims came from 15 states across Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.

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