At least 19 Nigerians have died in Saudi Arabia as they participate in the annual Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj. It is the most recent deaths reported in the Gulf Kingdom, after some two dozen Indians were also reported to have died in the country late last month. Nigeria's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdullahi Garba Aminci confirmed the news, but did not say how the pilgrims had died in giving condolences to the families of those who pass away. He added that he hoped this year's Hajj would move forward smoothly and successfully, but there are worries in the conservative Kingdom that safety and security are not up to standards, with dozens of deaths already being reported. The pilgrimage is one of the pillars of Islam and is a requirement of all Muslims to perform at least once in their liftime, depending on financial capabilities. The cost of the Hajj continues to rise annually and is largely out of reach for most of the Arab world's poorer population. BM
