"How 'Nigerian shortcut mentality' caused deadly Hajj stampede," Nigerian in Mecca claims

A Nigerian Muslim attending the 2015 Hajj in Saudi Arabia has reportedly claimed Nigerians were among those responsible for the stampede that claimed hundreds in Mina on Sallah Day.

717 pilgrims died in the tragedy. 863 were injured.

A top Saudi official, Thursday, blamed the tragedy on African pilgrims, some of them Nigerians. He said the pilgrims disobeyed instructions.

Rasaq Salami said he witnessed the moment leading up to the stampede in which 717 people died and 863 were injured.

His account seems to corroborate the Saudi official’s claims.

Salami said the tragedy happened after pilgrims disregarded police warnings not to take a shortcut on their way to stoning “Satan’s symbol” – the Ka’aba.

When Nigerian lawmakers scaled NASS gate: Salami said that came to mind when he saw the pilgrims climbing the gate.

Basirah Ibrahim Kolawole, a Nigerian Muslim who claimed to be friends with Salami, posted the pilgrim’s alleged eyewitness account on Facebook.

A few steps to the gate, I noticed the Saudi police trying to close the gate. Doubled my steps and walked my way through the mass of people trying to do same.

At the gate I shouted at one of the four policemen to shut up because I couldn’t not get what he was saying. He gave me a stern look and I returned same to him.

Few seconds later the police succeeded in closing the gate directing pilgrims to move straight down the road rather than take the shortcut. But the pilgrims didn’t want to hear of it. Instead they resorted to climbing over the gate. I smiled.

A re-enactment of what happened at the Nigeria NASS. These were not young persons. Trust Nigerians were involved. I smelled danger and thus moved on. The policemen were helpless because they were being civil. No batons or horse whips to whip the people back on track. They could only watch and warn of the dangers inherent in what the pilgrims were doing.

Few minutes later, it happened. Scores dead and several injured. May Allah accept the souls of dead and grant them favour, Amin.

However, could the disaster have been avoided? It’s a resounding YES. Why was it not avoided? Simply INDISCIPLINE and lack of respect for rules, instructions and directives from constituted authorities.

Saudi authorities were criticised for blaming the tragedy on African pilgrims.

Iran, which lost at least 43 citizens to the tragedy, led growing criticism of Saudi Arabia’s blame game.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council accused the Saudis of “incompetence” and urged them to “take responsibility” for the deaths, the BBC reports.

Nigerian journalist Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf is among the dead. So is Tijani El-Miskin, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Maiduguri and former Chairman of the Borno State Pilgrims Board.

Nigeria has dismissed remarks by the Saudi health minister blaming pilgrims for “not following instructions”.

Controversial political figure, Femi Fani-Kayode, also joined in criticising the Saudi government.

Fani-Kayode wrote on Facebook:

717 souls perish in a stampede during hajj and instead of expressing regret a Saudi Arabian prince blames “African nationalities” for the tragedy? How callous can these Arabs be?

Many commenters took to the thread to criticise Fani-Kayode, a Christian, for meddling in Islamic affairs.

We’re sorry. We can’t publish their comments.

Meanwhile, Saudi’s King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage.