By Mustapha Usman
From Makkah
Three All Progressives Congress, APC, Local Government Chairmen of Zamfara State on Friday died in a ghastly motor accident on their way to Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in Makkah, the Commissioner in Charge of health matters of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Ibrahim Kana, said the incident occurred at about 120 kilometres before reaching Madinah to perform lesser hajj.
Mr Kana also identified the deceased as Jafarau Gidan Sambo of Kaura Namoda Local Government, Mudi Mallamawa of Shinkafi Local Government and Abdullahi Ruwan Dorowa of Maru Local Government areas of the state.
According to him, the survivors currently receiving treatment in the nearest hospital were Nasiru Anka of Anka Local Government, Tafa Bukkuyum of Bukkuyum Local Government and Garba Ziti of Gummi.
Narrating the incident, Mr Kana said the Nigerian Hajj mission was informed about the incident by the Saudi security in Madinah.
He added that, “on receiving the information, I swiftly informed the NAHCON chairman, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar, who ordered that medical team be quickly dispatched to the scene.
“He also ordered the NAHCON Madinah coordinator, Ahmad Maigari to link up with the Saudi security agencies and health authorities for necessary documentation and burial arrangements,” Mr Kana pointed out.
However, as at the time of filing in this report, the Nigerian and Saudi authorities were completing the paperwork in order to hand over the deceased for burial, which could hold in the holy mosque of Madinah after today’s (Friday) Asr prayer.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that this latest fatality has brought the number of Nigerian pilgrims that died in this year’s Hajj to 10.
