President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday expressed deep sadness over the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, in which hundreds of pilgrims, including some Nigerians, lost their lives.
A statement signed by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu described the incident as a monumental tragedy, not only for citizens of the countries involved, but for the global Islamic community.
Several Nigerians, including Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, a notable Nigerian journalist and Prof. Tijjani El-Miskin, were killed.
The President extended his sincerest condolences to the families of the over 700 pilgrims who lost their lives in the disaster in the Holy Places in Mina, noting that it occurred less than two weeks after a crane collapse in Mecca which also claimed over 100 lives.
He also commiserated with the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists on the loss of Hajiya Bilkisu, describing her as “an exemplary, dedicated, knowledgeable, very credible, highly-respected, outstanding editor and columnist” who will remain a glittering role model for journalists, within and outside Nigeria.
‘The President has taken note of the assurance by the Government of Saudi Arabia that Thursday's catastrophe will be investigated and urges King Salman to ensure a comprehensive and thorough exercise that will identify any flaws in Hajj organisation with a view to avoiding a recurrence of such tragedies during the annual pilgrimage,” the statement noted.
“In the knowledge that it is not within our powers to question the will of God, President Buhari prays that Almighty Allah will comfort the families who lost their beloved ones in the stampede and receive the souls of all those who died in the Holy Land while fulfilling the religious obligation of the Hajj.”