The Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has confirmed the death of the state’s Amirul Hajj for the 2015 pilgrimage, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim, the First Class ruler of Zing.

The chairman of the board, Alhaji Hamman-Adama Tukur, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview from Saudi Arabia.

Tukur explained that the emir died on Thursday during a stampede that claimed the lives of more than 700 pilgrims.

The victims, among others, were at the site of the Jamrat, where they were to fulfill one of the Hajj rites of a symbolic stoning of the devil.
Tukur said that the body of the late traditional ruler had been recovered and buried in Makkah on Friday.

He disclosed that many indigenes of Taraba were still missing, while a few others, whose names he did not mention, but who sustained injuries, were receiving treatment in some Saudi hospitals.
Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, Chief Press Secretary to Taraba Governor, also confirmed the death of the monarch.

He however said that consultation was still ongoing between the State Government and the Zing Traditional Council, before a formal pronouncement would be made.

Meanwhile, the Zing Traditional Council has also confirmed that the Emir died along with two of his four wives during the stampede.
The Tafidan Zing, Gurama Bawa, who confirmed the death of the wives in an interview with NAN, said the late emir was aged 62 and had been on the throne for 19 years.

He left behind, two wives and 13 children. (NAN)