Kebbi Chief Judge killed in Saudi stampede

The Chief Justice of Kebbi State, Abdulkadir Jega, was among the 717 people who died in Thursday’s stampede at Jamrat in Saudi Arabia. Confirming the death to correspondent in Mina, Saudi Arabia, Kebbi State deputy governor, Samaila Yombe, said the CJ was caught up in the tragedy while on his way to perform the ritual of stoning.

“Yes, the CJ of Kebbi State, Justice Abdulkadir Jega, has died as a result of the incident that occurred while on our way from Muzdalifa to Jamra to perform the first ritual of stoning the Jamratul Akbar (the big Jamra),” he said...

Although details of whether the CJ died on the spot is not known, the deputy governor stated that the Amirul Hajj and Emir of Argungu, Samaila Mera, Speaker of the State House of Assembly and his deputy, Governor Atiku Bagudu’s family were among pilgrims who survived the incident.

The deputy governor, however, insisted that the incident at Jamra was not a stampede, adding, “whoever said it was a stampede either does not know the meaning of a stampede or he is not saying the truth.”