The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have expressed shock over the reported death of hundreds and injured pilgrims recorded during a stampede that occurred at the annual ritual ‘Stoning of the Devil’ during the hajj, outside the holy Muslim city of Mecca.
In a statement by TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, the congress said it was painful that while “we were yet grappling with the over a hundred people killed in Mecca when a construction crane fell on the crowded Grand Mosque, another one happened.”
According to the congress, ‘’record has it that the last time a tragedy of this magnitude befell pilgrims was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims perished in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites near Mecca. It was the ninth in a string of such incidents since then; and we had thought that by now the Saudi government should have addressed the cause of such aviodable deaths. It just does not make any sense for people to die in places of worship, especially at an occasion as important as Islam’s most important feast and day of the stoning ritual.
“Apart from the 1,426 pilgrim that died in 1990, 350 pilgrims also died in 2006 which eventually prompted Saudi Arabia to employ some remedial measures. We do not expect this kind of colossal loss at this time and age, again. It’s just too grave to bear,” added the TUC.
The labour body said the Saudi Arabia government must accept responsibility for this catastrophic loss, and as a matter of urgency order an investigation and a review of the kingdom’s plans for annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The NLC also expressed shock on the extent of the losses.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, he said: “We call for a thorough investigation of the two major incidents that led to these deaths.
“In order for transparency and re-assurance, we urge that countries whose citizens perished in the two incidents be made members of the body of inquiry.
“But most importantly, perhaps, time has come for the Saudi authorities to review their crowd control management techniques and administration of hajj, generally”.
