Update On Mecca Death Toll - Rises To About 56 Nigerians - Still Counting...

No fewer than 56 Nigerian pilgrims have been confirmed dead, with about 77 others injured in Thursday stampede, which occurred in Mecca where at least 717 pilgrims were killed when they were performing the last rite of this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has said.

The Chairman of NAHCON disclosed this at a news conference yesterday night in Mecca. Many are still missing. The briefing, was the first official confirmation of Nigeria’s death toll.

According to the NAHCON chairman, most of the victims and the injured were from the North. Some of the affected states are Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba, Zamfara and Ogun. Mukhtar said the full figure of the missing pilgrim cannot be disclosed until the the ongoing head count is concluded.