The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Sunday, confirmed that 145 Nigerians were killed in the September 24 stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Although Saudi authorities confirmed more than 769 pilgrims from across the world dead, the death toll is believed to be over 1,000 with Iran having the higher death casualty of over 400 people. About 1,000 people were also injured during the stampede on one of the roads leading to the Jamarat complex (stone throwing site) in Mina.

Briefing journalists in Mecca in an update, NAHCON’s commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Information and Library Services, Saleh Okenwa, said that seven of the 42 injured pilgrims were still on admission at various hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

He, however, said that the number of pilgrims earlier declared missing had reduced from 214 to 165 following the discovery of additional bodies of some Nigerians killed in the stampede.

Read More: dailytimes