Suffocation following the failure to find the exact route through a path and the high degree of the heat led to the death in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the Hajj on Thursday.
This is contrary to the widely reported position that a stampede led to the death of no fewer than 769 persons last week.
This was revealed to News Express online by the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Dabai Yombe.
Yombe, who is also performing the Hajj, said Thursday’s Jamrat tragedy was not as a result of stampede.
He told News Express: “Whoever said it was a stampede either does not know the meaning of a stampede or he is not saying the truth.
“What actually happened was that the entire pilgrims scheduled to throw Jamrat at that time were channeled to follow one particular street.
“At a time, we got to a certain point around 8am, a military vehicle was set across to create a barrier and then some of the Saudi soldiers were standing by, suggesting that you cannot pass beyond that point.
“About 5,000 people coming from same direction were not aware of the blocked road in front, which resulted to a ‘sardining’, so to speak, which made it very difficult for us to even stand.
“So, we continued to squat to make room for fresh air, while the temperature was about 47 degrees celsius.
“Pilgrims, in an effort to get fresh air, attempted to scale fences of tents on both sides of the road.
“Very few succeeded, while most people just succumbed to the situation.
“It was at this juncture that we started seeing dead bodies pile up around us.”
Trending
- I regret wearing bikinis, nudity – Rihanna
- N80.2bn fraud: Yahaya Bello disregarded invite – EFCC Chairman
- Oyebanji hails Alebiosu’s appointment as acting MD/CEO First Bank
- Sanusi mourns passing of former NFF Board Member, Stephen Gyebgon
- President Federation Cup: Women teams on holiday as men’s Round of 64 games hold next week
- Why Peter Obi should support Lagos-Calabar coastal road project – Ohanaeze Ndigbo
- Yayaha Bello to EFCC: You lied, I didn’t receive any invitation
- Court fixes date to deliver ruling in Yahaya Bello’s application to vacate arrest warrant