Six Nigerian pilgrims buried in Makkah –Nigeria Ambassador

The six Nigerians that were killed in the September 11 crane accident at the precinct of Ka’aba in Makkah have been buried, the Nigerian Consul-General to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Ahmed Umar, told journalists on Sunday in Jeddah.

Ambassador Umar said the Nigerian deceased were buried Friday evening in a specially designated cemetery in Makkah where all the dead victims of the crash were buried.

A total of 111 pilgrims were killed and 331 others injured when, one of the cranes being used for heavy construction was hit by a thunderstorm during a heavy rainfall then fell on one of the pillars around the Ka’aba where thousands of pilgrims were circumambulating the holy house.

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) Chairman Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed confirmed the death of four Gombe, and one each of Kaduna and Katsina states pilgrims, with another two and one Kaduna and Gombe pilgrims injured.

While the four dead pilgrims from Gombe were women, the remaining two were males from Kaduna and Katsina states. Only the identity of Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu Kargi from Kubau Local Government of Kaduna State was known while the remaining five are yet to be released by officials.

Umar, who led a delegation of the Nigeria embassy and NAHCON at the burial, said the corpses of the pilgrims were buried after receiving the invitation of the Saudi Authority and also fulfilling all protocols, adding that the consulate and NAHCON officials were fully involved in the arrangements and the burial.

He also said that the six pilgrims that sustained injuries during the accident received special attention, and that some of them were discharged, while others still in the hospital were responding to treatment.

According to the Ambassador, the consulate is working with officials of the affected states on the monetary compensation recently announced by the Saudi authority for the victims and if also their relations decide to go to court for compensation.

The counsellor-general, however, said that the money would be given to the relations of the deceased and other victims of the crash when released.

He said the Nigerian government appreciates the gesture of the Saudi authority which is an indication of their sympathy and sharing grieves of those affected and their families and assured Nigerians and families of the victims that the money would be delivered to the right persons.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced a series of compensations which include RS1 million (about N54 million) to be given to the families of each of the deceased and those who sustained permanent disabilities, while others with other injuries will get SR500,000 (about N27 million) each among others.