: Tuesday, 8 Dec 2009
The Head of Media and Publicity of the National Hajj Commission, Alhaji Uba Maina, has said that no fewer than 30 Nigerians died in Saudi Arabia during the 2009 hajj.
Maina made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Mecca.
He said that Kebbi lost five pilgrims, Niger and Sokoto lost four each while Kano and Plateau lost three each.
According to him, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Zamfara also lost two pilgrims each.
He said that Lagos, Yobe and Borno states lost one pilgrim each.
Maina said that the three pilgrims from Kano State who died in the holy land were international pilgrims.
The Hajj Commission Spokesman said that three out of the 30 dead pilgrims were knocked down by vehicles, two died as a result of kidney failure, while the rest died of hypertension and heart-related diseases.
On the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria, Maina said that more than 15,000 pilgrims had been transported home.
He assured that the transportation of the pilgrims would be completed by Dec. 26.
Meanwhile, 164 Nigerians were deported from Libya.
The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Monday.
A source at the Nigerian Immigration Service told the News Agency of Nigeria at the airport that the deportees aboard a chartered aircraft belonging to Air Memphis.
The source said 160 of the deportees were women and others minors.
He said they were returned to Nigeria over immigration-related offences.
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