The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has announced the death of nine Nigerians in this year’s pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah.
The head of the medical team of the Commission, Dr Ibrahim Kana, who announced the death in Minah while briefing journalists on activities of the medical team of NAHCON, said that the latest pilgrim to die is from Lagos State.
“The deceased, a Lagos State pilgrim, collapsed at Jamrat and brought to the hospital in Minah but died. She was hypertensive.”
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 and that she slumped at 3:00 a.m. while heading to Jamrat to throw stones at the devil.
Throwing stone 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 Minah with adequate drugs and ambulances.
He identified cough and hypertension as some of the health challenges presented by patients.
Meanwhile, Nigerian pilgrims have begun buying and selling after Arafat and Eid-el- Kabir.
NAN correspondent, who visited Nigerian camp in Minah reports 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 stone throwing at the three devils and offering special prayers.
Pilgrims, who will spend three days to accomplish religious rites in Minah are expected to move to the Grand Mosque, Makkah tomorrow, August 14 to complete the remaining rites to ensure an acceptable hajj.
According to sources from NAHCON, August 17 has been fixed as the kick-off for the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
