Saudi Arabia stampede: Sokoto confirms 9 of its pilgrims dead; wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, sends condolences

Sokoto State Government has announced that nine of its pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead in the stampede that occurred on ‎Eid Day in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

A statement by Malam Imam Imam, Spokesman to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said that government officials, led by the state Amirul Hajj and Leader of Delegation, the State’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, have been working round the clock to identify many of the pilgrims who suffered various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatments ‎in different hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“At this moment of grief and sober reflection, the state government urges all citizens to remain calm and intensify prayers as we await further confirmation from authorities concerned,” the statement said, stressing that any more information would be communicated as they become available.

In her condolence message, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, expressed her deepest sympathy and sincere condolences over the death of the more than seven hundred pilgrims that lost their lives in Mecca.

A statement by Adebisi Olumide-Ajayi, her S.A. Media, said that “Her Excellency equally commiserates with all members of the Nigerian Union Of Journalists over the demise of the first female journalist from Northern Nigeria Bilkisu Yusuf, who was involved in the unfortunate incident. She will be sorely missed for her many contributions to the advancement of women folk and her mentoring of young female Journalists.

“The consolation, however, is in the fact that the people who passed away touched the lives of many citizens positively.”