2024 Hajj: 15 Nigerian pilgrims die, 17 suffer heatstroke in Saudi Arabia

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed the death of 15 Nigerian pilgrims in the ongoing hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

Those who passed away during the spiritual exercise including a female pilgrim who committed suicide are pilgrims from Kwara, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi states.

Saudi Arabia authorities had ordered restriction of pilgrims’ movement for five hours on Monday preventing them from taking the risk of observing the pelting of the devil, one of the rites at Jamurat owing to the intensity of the weather.

Besides, 17 other pilgrims from Nigeria suffered severe heatstroke at the holy sites as a result of the high temperature which triggered several casualties while four pilgrims with pregnancies were uncovered, with two suffering miscarriages.

Although the death toll recorded in 2024 is slightly higher, compared to data of similar incidence in 2023 that stood at 14, there is a significant reduction in the cases of pregnant pilgrims discovered this year, compared to 75 cases recorded last year.

Head, National Medical Team, 2024 Hajj, Dr. Abubakar Ismaeel gave the account during a post-Arafah stakeholders event organized by NAHCON to review the general operations of the commission at the end of the spiritual exercise in Makkah.

Dr. Ismaeel who gave an overview of the medical team at Madina, Makkah and activities at the holy sites in Muna and Arafah, during the five-day rituals, disclosed that 2,856 Nigerians were offered medical consultation.

The head of the NAHCON medical team disclosed that despite improved services rendered by the team in the outgoing exercise, he expressed concern over the flagrant disregard of pilgrims to early warning and guidelines provided to prevent health complications.

Dr. Ismaeel therefore suggested more enforcement of health policy in the further exercise, among other necessities including thorough pre-Medical screening and issuance of valid certificate of fitness, should be mandatory, especially to the elderly

In his recommendations, Dr. Ismaeel warned the Nigerian Hajj mission to urge Saudi Arabia to provide additional lavatories at Muna and Arafah and an isolation area for pilgrims with communicable diseases.