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The coordinator of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) in Mecca, Suleiman Usman, has disclosed that some Nigerian pilgrimage officials were arrested and taken to prison by the Saudi authorities for trespass. The officials were not given clearance to access certain parts of the holy city in which they were found and the Saudi Arabia authorities had no other choice than to put them under arrest. Pending further hearing on the issue.

Mr. Usman made the disclosure while paying a condolence visit, Sunday night, to three Nigerian states that lost six pilgrims in the Mecca crane accident. The crane accident claimed many lives and many others were wounded. Three states in Nigeria lost some of them hajj delegates to the crane incidence, which Saudi Arabian authorities claimed was due to the new expansion works going on at the holy city. The authorities said they were making effort to expand the mosque so that it would be able to contain many more people at the same time and to meet up with increasing population of Muslims the world over.

Six Nigerian pilgrims including one male from Kaduna State, four females from Gombe State and one male from Katsina, died in the tragedy on Friday and they had  since been flown home to their home states and had been buried according to Islamic rites..

The coordinator said the affected officials were medical personnel arrested for embarking on a trip outside Mecca without official permit. He claimed it was not a serious issue and that it would be settled before long, consideration the noncriminal state of their offences.

“We are trying to secure the release of our medical team, who were arrested and taken to prison by Saudi security, while travelling from Jeddah in an ambulance,” the coordinator said.

Mr. Usman, who did not disclose how many officials were affected, and the states they represent, appealed to pilgrims to desist from traveling outside Mecca without official permit, at least until after Arafat. He also advised them to be law abiding and to go by the rules placed on movement while they are there. He further stated that nothing concrete had been achieved in the attempt to secure the release of the arrested members of the medical team. He however assured that their release would be granted in  the nearest future.

“Pilgrims should not leave Mecca at least until after Hajj and with official permit. They should also ensure adherence to the laid down rules and regulation of the Saudi authorities,” he said.

Commenting on the Friday tragedy, Mr. Usman said rescue officials were able to identify Adamu Kargi from Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State from his uniform as he was not carrying his identification cards when the accident occurred.

“We were able to identify the deceased from Kaduna State by his uniform because at the time of the accident, he was not bearing identity card and the hand identification band. But, we commend our pilgrims for wearing their uniforms all the time,” he said.