The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, disclosed on Friday that he held a meeting with Saudi authorities carrying out ongoing investigation into the recent hajj stampede in Mina, Mecca.
It would be recalled on September 24 that no fewer than 747 Muslims, including 64 Nigerians, lost their lives and 805 others injured at a stampede on their way to Jamarat complex, stone-throwing site.
Emir Sanusi, who addressed pilgrims during a visit to South-South and South-East camps in Mecca, said Nigeria had already requested a fair and transparent investigation from Saudi authorities, even as he revealed that he had met with Saudi Minister in charge of Hajj Affairs, who had promised a thorough investigation.
Sanusi noted that although the Saudi authorities had made adequate arrangement to avoid hitches, the exercise had encountered one of the worse stampedes in the history of Hajj operation.
According to him, “Vehicular movements were restricted in parts of Mecca on Arafat and Jamarat days all in an effort to have hitch-free movement to the stone throwing site. But unfortunately and as God wishes, there was stampede in one of the road leading to the stoning complex.
“All of us have our time. No one can spend more than a second when it comes. The stampede cannot be stopped by anyone as that is an act of God,” the monarch stated.
The emir added that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had received complaints on accommodation in Mecca and Mina from stakeholders, assuring the people that issues raised would be addressed before the next hajj operation. .
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