Saudi stampede: Two Rivers state pilgrims died, five missing
Felix Okoye
There are unconfirmed reports that two pilgrims from Rivers State may have died in the stampede that killed more than 700 in Mina, Saudi Arabia, reports Daily post.
DP reported that at the 2015 Hajj one person from the State was said to have been injured in the tragedy.
Chairman of the Rivers State Muslims Pilgrims Board, Alh. Abdurazak Diepriye while answering questions from the media in Port Harcourt said they were yet to verify the report.
Diepriye, however, confirmed that six pilgrims from Rivers were currently missing, adding that the injured contingent had been discharged from the hospital.
The Chairman of the board said 11 people were initially missing as at the time of the tragedy “but we have located five and they are here with us now.”
“We can’t say any of our contingents is dead. We can’t also give you the names of those missing. We don’t want to cause any panic. We will keep in touch with you when we have any report,” he said.
In the stampede 717 pilgrims died, while over 500 were injured on Thursday on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the deadliest tragedy to strike the annual hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades.