The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Saudi Arabia executes Shi’itte cleric, 46 others for terrorism

    Saudi Arabia executes Shi’itte cleric, 46 others for terrorism

    •Angry Iran says Riyadh will pay ‘high price’ for action

    Riyadh – Saudi Arabia yesterday executed a prominent Shi’ite cleric alongside dozens of al Qaeda members stirring a rise in sectarian tensions across the region.

    Most of the 47 executed were convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago, but four, including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, were Shi’ite Muslims accused of shooting policemen during anti-government protests in recent years.

    The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom’s Sharia law.

    Riyadh’s main regional rival Iran and its Shi’ite allies immediately reacted with vigorous condemnation of the execution of Nimr, and Saudi police raised security in a district where the sect is a majority in case of protests, residents said.

    Iran vowed that Saudi Arabia will pay “a high price” for the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

    Spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned the execution, which came after his Shi’ite country repeatedly asked its Sunni-ruled rival to pardon the cleric.

    “The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution… the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies,” he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

    Nimr, 56, was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation.

    “The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence,” said Ansari.

    The executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers in the kingdom to stage attacks.

    The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca’s Grand Mosque in 1979.

    The 43 Sunni jihadists executed included several prominent al Qaeda figures, including those convicted of responsibility for attacks on Western compounds, government buildings and diplomatic missions that killed hundreds from 2003-06.

    Also reacting yesterday,a  top Iranian cleric warned the kingdom’s Al Saud ruling family would be “wiped from the pages of history”. Yemen’s Houthi group described Nimr as a “holy warrior”, while Lebanese militia Hezbollah said Riyadh had made “a grave mistake”.

     

  • Medview to begin flight services to Jeddah

    Medview Airlines has concluded plans to commence flight operations into Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia.

    The new service is part of efforts by the airline to consolidate operations on the international routes it was designated by the Federal Government.  This is coming barely 17 days after it commenced direct flight operations from Lagos to London.

    This exists as the airline on Monday unveiled its latest aircraft, Boeing 737-800 from Slovakia to the media.

    The Managing Director, Med-View, Alhaji Muneer Bankole while unveiling the new aircraft said that the airline would commence two weekly flights from Lagos to Kano to Jeddah with plans to increase the frequencies to four in the coming months.

    He declared that the aircraft, which landed at the international wing of the airport on Sunday evening was leased from Air Explore in Slovakia and would be used for the Jeddah route from December 31, 2015.

    The aircraft with the registration number OM-GEX is configured for 176 passengers; eight business class seats and 176 economy seats.

    Apart from the Jeddah route, which the aircraft would be deployed, he said the aircraft would immediately commence flight operations on its Yola route, which has since been increased from once daily to twice daily.
    Besides, he further disclosed that the airline had been designated to 17 international and regional routes, including seven in Africa, which it would continue to explore and operate into.

    He added that in the couple of weeks, it would expand its Port Harcourt operations to two from the existing one daily.

    Commenting on its Lagos-London flights, Bankole hinted that the flights had been increasing on a daily basis and expressed confidence that it would continue to grow.
    He said, “We chose Gatwick instead of Heathrow airport because the airport has a limited challenge. From Heathrow alone, we have three airlines that are operating direct daily flights; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Arik Air, but we are the only one operating from Gatwick.

    “As it is today, all our flights out of Lagos to London are fully booked till the end of January. I don’t know whether to call it acceptance or something else, but one thing I know is that our flights have been increasing daily and I want to thank Nigerians for this.

    “Also, our flights to and from Accra route, which we started about 14 months ago have been increasing and regularly full. We are also planning Dubai operations in the first quarter of 2016 and that is how we hope to grow and consolidate on our operations.”

    Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Air Explore, Slovakia, Mr. Martin Stulajter, commended management of Med-View for the existing relationship between the two organisations.

    Stulajter assured that the existing relationship would continue as the airline had proved to be reliable and consistent in its business development plans.

  • Saudi Arabia, UN to broker peace in Yemen

    Saudi Arabia on Monday backed a decision by its allied Yemeni government to hold peace talks with Iran-backed Yemeni rebels, raising hopes for an end to the months-long conflict in the country.

    A source from the Foreign Ministry official told newsmen that Saudi Arabia had supported a decision by Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to attend UN-sponsored talks with Houthi rebels.

    “The talks are a right step to end the Yemeni crisis,” the Saudi official was quoted as saying.

    The venue and date of the talks are not yet known.

    Earlier this month, UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ahmed said that the Houthis had agreed to implement a UN resolution demanding that rebels withdraw from areas under their control and hand over their weapons to state institutions.

    The Yemeni government has repeatedly linked its participation in any peace talks with the rebels to their acceptance of the resolution issued in April.

    Previous UN attempts to end Yemen’s war failed, worsening a humanitarian conditions in the country.

    More than 2,300 civilians have been killed since March, according to UN agencies.

  • Oyo pilgrims detained by Saudi authorities  

    Two of the 1,191 pilgrims from Oyo State who performed this year’s Hajj were detained by the Saudi Arabian authorities for a drug-related offence.

    Alhaji Adeleke AbdulKareem, the Secretary, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday.

    Abdulkareem said the affected pilgrims were females, adding that one of them escaped while the other was still in detention.

    He said that the drug found with the pilgrims was Tramador, a contraband in Saudi Arabia, which the pilgrims had been warned against.

    The secretary also said that two other pilgrims from the state died due to ill health before Arafat Day.

    Abdulkareem said that the last batch of pilgrims from the state arrived Nigeria on Oct. 11.

    He warned pilgrims to always comply with the rules and regulation of the Saudi authorities to avoid being arrested or tarnishing the country’s image.

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  • Hajj Stampede: Nigeria death toll now 145

    Hajj Stampede: Nigeria death toll now 145

    The death toll of Nigerians in the recent stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia has risen to 145.

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Sunday that a total of 345 Nigerians were affected in the September 24 deadly stampede and figure of the injured stands at 35, while those still missing are 165.

    The Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told reporters in Makkah that seven Nigerians are still admitted in hospital and are responding to treatment.

    He was speaking at a joint press conference of the top management of the commission’s operational activities of the 2015 Hajj exercise and the update on the stampede with the Chargé d’Affaires Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh Ambassador Tijjani Hammanjoda and the Nigerian Consul-General to Saudi Arabia Ambassador Ahmed Umar.

  • Hajj Stampede: NAHCON confirms 99 Nigerians dead, 214 missing

    Hajj Stampede: NAHCON confirms 99 Nigerians dead, 214 missing

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims in the recent stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.

    The Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told reporters in Makkah on Thursday that 42 were injured and 214 others missing

    He however insisted that those missing cannot be declared dead, since identification of those affected were still being collated by the Saudi Arabia health authorities in conjunction with Nigerian and other health officials.

    He also gave the breakdown of the Hajj victims as 73 deaths from the state pilgrim welfare board, agencies and commissions, while the remaining 26 were from the tour operators.

    “Those injured were 42, 41 from the state pilgrims and one from tour operators. The numbers of those missing from the states are 96 males, 94 females and four males who were officials, totaling 194. Ten males and 10 females were missing from the tour operators. Of those injured only seven remain in the hospitals on admission and receiving treatments and others were discharged,” Okenwa said.

    When asked if there is hope that those missing can still be found alive, the commissioner said: “In the early days people expressed hope but the hope is weaning. We cannot declare those missing as dead since there is no evidence to state that.”

  • Hajj: Nigeria loses another 19 to hypertension, diabetes – Centre

    The Head of Data Unit of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s Medical Centre in Mecca, Dr. Jibrin Suleman has said 19 Nigerian pilgrims died of heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes and other related ailments during the just-concluded Hajj.
    The death was separate from the casualty figure recorded by the nation during last Thursday Hajj stampede in Jamarat in Mina.
    He said more than 10,000 pilgrims were treated in NAHCON’s five clinics in Madinah and Mecca for cold, malaria, body pain and other simple and non-complicated cases.
    Suleman gave the statistics while briefing the Leader of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Hajj, Sen. Ali Wakili when he visited the centre in Mecca.
    Suleman said the 19 deaths involved pilgrims between 65 years and above.
    On his part, the Head, Medical Team of the centre, Dr. Muhammad Bello Abdulkadir, said the clinics were stocked with necessary drugs.
    “We brought some of the drugs from Nigeria, while others were procured in Saudi Arabia,’’ he added.
    He also said NAHCON recruited 232 medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and others to man the clinics.
    He, however, complained that the centre had no ambulance to move to the pilgrims’ hostels during emergencies.
    Wakili said members of the ad hoc committee were going round NAHCON facilities in Saudi Arabia to evaluate the situation and find out challenges confronting the agency.

  • Makkah tragedy deeply touching – Lawal

    Makkah tragedy deeply touching – Lawal

    The Chairman and National Coordinator of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Scandinavia, Ayoola Lawal has described the death of all Muslim faithful in Saudi Arabia as national tragedy.
    The National Coordinator condoles with Muslims all over the world over the untimely death of several pilgrims during the stampede in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
    In his condolence message, Ayoola noted that it is deeply touching to read about another tragic incidence in Saudi Arabia during this year’s holy pilgrimage.
    “My heart goes to all the bereaved families all over the world and special condolences to the families of Nigerian pilgrims, whose loved ones fell victims of the unfortunate and tragic stampede.
    “The Saudi authorities will need to conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding the first and second tragic incidents and take all necessary and appropriate measures against such future tragic occurrences.
    He however prayed that the souls of the departed fellows rest in peace and God grants the families and friends of the dead the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Account for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently account for all Nigerian pilgrims in the aftermath of last Thursday’s disaster at Mina.

    The Presidential directive followed conflicting reports on the number of Nigerians who died or suffered injuries in the catastrophe which claimed over 700 lives.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, was said to be very concerned that days after the unfortunate incident, some Nigerian families are still grappling with painful uncertainty over the fate of their relatives who traveled to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

    He expected the National Hajj Commission to work with the various state pilgrim boards, Islamic organisations and private travel agencies involved in Hajj operations to speedily provide a confirmed and verifiable report on the status of every Nigerian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia.

    President Buhari has also directed the Hajj Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to give all necessary assistance to Nigerians who are still receiving treatment for injuries suffered in Mina.

    He continues to pray that Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the dead, comfort bereaved families, heal the injured and bring all surviving Nigerian pilgrims safely home.

  • Sallah: El-Rufai sends N20m gift to Kaduna pilgrims in Saudi

    Sallah: El-Rufai sends N20m gift to Kaduna pilgrims in Saudi

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has sent the sum of N20million as Eid-el-Kabir Sallah gift to the 5,710 Kaduna State Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

    Each of the 5,710 pilgrim who came for the 2015 Hajj exercise under Kaduna State got 50 Saudi Riyals, which is equivalent to N3,500 in the Sallah largesse.

    The State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril Maigwari II presented the Governor’s widow’s might to pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

    According to the Amirul Hajj, the Governor felicitates with the pilgrims for successful completion of the hajj rituals and wish them acceptable Hajj.

    “The Governor has asked me to greet you happy Sallah and congratulate you for successful completion of the hajj exercise. He also prayed that Almighty Allah will accept your hajj,” the Emir said.

    He however urged the pilgrims to desist from spreading rumour concerning the casualties of the last Thursday’s stampede at Mina and wait for concern authorities to confirm the casualties and get across to the families of the victims.