Pilgrimage: 10 Nigerians die, two deliver babies in S’Arabia

AT least 10 Nigerian pilgrims were reported to have died in Saudi Arabia, the Head of Nigerian Medical Mission, Dr. Ibrahim Khana, has said. Khana told the News Agency of Nigeria in Mecca, that three of the dead pilgrims were from Bauchi State; two from Sokoto State while Gombe, Zamfara, Edo, Kwara and Kebbi states lost a pilgrim each. He said that two of the pilgrims lost their lives after they fell from the top of the storey building they were staying. He advised pilgrims to avoid staying in over-crowded places as the hajj exercise reached its peak. The head of the medical team added they (team) had put facilities in place to ensure that pilgrims got adequate medical care. Meanwhile, Khana also said that two Nigerian women performing the 2010 Hajj gave birth. Continued from Page 1

He told a correspondent of the NAN on Monday in Mecca that the women, from Taraba and Niger states, were delivered of their babies while in Mecca.

The head of the medical team, who did not give the names of the women, however, said the baby of the mother from Niger State died shortly after birth.

He expressed dismay at the situation where pregnant women beat security operatives to attend the hajj despite the order stopping them from travelling to Saudi Arabia for the exercise.

He called on state pilgrim agencies to put in place tighter screening measures to prevent future occurrence.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011163375954