A hotel housing over 480 Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was engulfed by fire on Saturday, June 7, but all affected pilgrims are confirmed to be safe, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The fire broke out at the Imaratus Sanan Hotel, located in the Sharamansur area of the holy city. The incident occurred around 12 p.m. local time, while most of the pilgrims were away in Mina performing the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual, a key rite of the Hajj pilgrimage.
In a statement issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of the Information and Publications Division on behalf of NAHCON’s Chairman/CEO, the Commission confirmed that all 484 pilgrims were safe and accounted for. “Immediate emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading all over the building,” the statement noted.
NAHCON’s leadership, led by Chairman Professor Abdullahi Usman, visited the site of the incident alongside Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti. The purpose of the visit was to assess the damage and ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims.
Professor Usman ordered the immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new facility and assured them of continued support. “The Chairman thanked Almighty Allah that no life was lost in this unfortunate incident, promising that NAHCON will work with the affected Tour Operators to ensure that pilgrims are relocated and provided with the necessary assistance,” the statement read.
Inspections of the new accommodation have been completed, and resettlement arrangements are currently underway. The Commission praised the rapid intervention by Saudi emergency services and the cooperation of hotel staff, which helped mitigate the extent of the damage.