The number of Nigerian pilgrims that died while performing the 2019 Hajj in Saudi Arabia has risen to nine, the Chairman, Medical team of the National Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON), Dr Ibrahim Kana, has announced.
Kana made the annoucement in Muna while briefing journalists on activities of the medical team of NAHCON for the pilgrims.
” The deceased, a Lagos State pilgrim, collapsed at Jamrat and brought to the hospital in Muna but died, she was hypertensive,” Kana said.
Speaking with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Muna on the issue earlier, the Lagos state Amir Hajj, Alhaji AbdulLateef Abdulkarim, identified the deceased as Alhaja Folashade Lawal.
He said that the late Lawal hailed from Oshodi Local Government Area of the state, noting that she slumped at 3 a m while heading to Jamrat to throw stone at the devil.
Throwing stone at the three devils is one of the Islamic rites towards acceptable hajj.
The chairman of the team said that the commission opened 21 field offices in Muna with adequate drugs and ambulances.
Kana, who said that well trained medical personnel were on ground to attend to pilgrims. He identified cough and hypertension as some of the health challenges presented by patients.
Vanguard