Hamza Musa Kabir from Kano in northern Nigeria survived the massive stampede at the hajj narrated his heartbreaking story to AFP’s Kano correspondent Aminu Abubakar.
On September 24, more than 700 people were killed in a stampede outside the holy city of Mecca. The tragedy occurred during the yearly Hajj pilgrimage, which draws about 2 million Muslims to Saudi Arabia each year.
In Mina, where Thursday’s disaster took place, stampedes killed more than 360 people in 2006 and 244 in 2004. In the worst Hajj stampede, 1,426 pilgrims were crushed in a pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca in 1990.
54 Nigerians died during the stampede during this year’s Hajj.
Musa Kabir, recalling the dreadful events narrated his story:
“We set off at sunrise from Muzdalifah and marched towards the Jamarat,” the place in Mina where pilgrims ritually stone the devil.
“We were more than halfway through the procession when the road was blocked by the police, which led to buildup (of pilgrims).
“Then the police blocked all the roads, leaving us with only one route. The situation became worse when the police allowed people returning from the Jamarat to use the same route back to their tents,” the 55-year-old tall, thin trader continued.
READ ALSO: Mecca Stampede Survivor Narrates His Ordeal
Why the tragedy happened
“From where I stood, I could see a police officer on a raised platform at a nearby control post beckoning at pilgrims returning that they should move on.
“Because those returning were moving in the opposite (direction) of the surging crowd, there was a stampede.
“People became weak from suffocation and heat. People couldn’t breathe (in the crush). Many collapsed, mostly women and the old and disabled on wheelchairs.
“I also was pinned down by this huge man I believe to be an Asian. I had to strip myself of my shroud which had become an obstacle to my escape.
“I raised my hand and grabbed the shroud of another pilgrim from Nigeria who was already standing on a fence. He couldn’t pull me up because I was pinned down by this huge man.”
READ ALSO: 54 Nigerians Confirmed Dead In Mecca Stampede – NAHCON
Kabir desperately grabbed the man’s testicles “and squeezed them which made him jump off me.”
“This enabled me to use my other hand to reach for the metal bar of the fence, and grab it. I then pulled myself up with the help of another young Arab man who was standing on the fence.
“I was so dizzy and weak and too weak to walk. I was spread on the floor and another pilgrim, seeing that I had regained consciousness, offered me his other shroud.
“People offered me drink and some food. I then realised that I had been bitten (on) the side, by a young man from underneath.
Countless bodies were lying on the floor
Kabir lost his rucksack and most of his belongings except for a small bag around his neck.
“I spent, like, two hours sitting down recuperating,” he said.
“After that, I was assisted by another pilgrim from Niger to make it to the Jamarat and carry out the stoning rites.
READ ALSO: Mecca Stampede: More Nigerians Confirmed Dead
“What I saw on my return to the scene of the stampede frightened me, because I just saw countless bodies lying on the floor covered in white shrouds, and I knew I could have been one of them.”
“I know I will not die until the appointed hour…. Hajj is very important to my faith, and no obstacles will discourage me from seizing another opportunity to come back.”
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