The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III and Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have expressed their thoughts on the recent loss of lives that occurred at this year’s hajj.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, on Saturday in Sokoto, urged Saudi authorities to henceforth provide improved safety measures during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Sultan spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of the report of a technical committee set up by him to look into the state of the education sector in Sokoto State.

He regretted that the stampede at Muna on Wednesday led to the death of no fewer than 1,000 pilgrims and injured over 800 others, while many more were still missing.

“The tragedy had affected several countries of the world, Nigeria in general and Sokoto state in particular.

“Some local governments in Sokoto state like Illela, Binji, Gwadabawa and others were affected by the tragedy, although the actual casualty figures are still being ascertained by Saudi Arabian and Nigerian authorities.”

Abubakar, who is the life National Amirul Hajj, described the deaths and injuries caused by the stampede as ‘collective loss.’

He said that his committee was assessing the situation and would appropriately advise the Federal Government on the incident.

“We will appropriately advise the Federal Government of Nigeria to partner the Saudi Government on how to improve safety of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.

“The tragedy was an act of God but we will render useful advice to the Federal Government on how to improve the safety of the pilgrims.

“This is necessary to ensure the conduct of hitch-free Hajj exercise annually.”

The Sultan condoled with the families and Government of Nigeria as well as other countries affected by the tragedy.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on his part, expressed regret on the death of more than 747 Muslims on September 17 in a stampede during pilgrimage in Mecca.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Head of Media to Atiku, Mr. Pul Ibe, described the incident as one of the grievous accidents to have befallen Muslims in recent memories.

According to the statement, Atiku notes that such colossal loss of human lives is rare and remarkably regrettable.

It urged the Muslim world to be united in grief and offer prayers to God to avert the recurrence of such accident in future.

“Life is so precious that whoever dies, the world should be united in grief because we are bound by our common humanity.

“The late Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, one of the Nigerian victims, was a shining light of the journalism profession in Nigeria.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Sultan of Sokoto, Former VP Atiku Abubakar