Ghanaian Killed In Hajj Stampede

As reported earlier by GHP (read), a Ghanaian was killed in the Hajj Stampede. The 69-year-old Ghanaian from Bawku in the Upper East Region, Yakubu Saeed Jabre, was killed in the stampede that claimed the lives of 344 other pilgrims during the stone throwing at Mina last Thursday. This was contrary to an earlier report (by Daily Graphic) that suggested that no Ghanaian was killed or injured in the stampede. This brings to five the number of Ghanaians who have died in Saudi Arabia. Four of them died from natural causes. The Ghanaian Medical Team identified the body of Yakubu on Sunday following reports from a Saudi hospital that a Ghanaian was among the casualties of the stampede.
The head of the team, Dr Mohammed Mbiniwaya, told the Daily Graphic on Sunday that the body would be laid at the Holy mosque, “Haran,” for prayers and then subsequently buried on Monday.
Yakubu was among 12 other Ghanaians who went to do the stone throwing. The 11 others managed to return safely. Abdul Rauf, who went with Yakubu said he did not see him after the ritual. Soumaila Ibrahim, the agent of the deceased, also confirmed that he had not seen him since Thursday.
The throwing of pebbles symbolized how Prophet Ibrahim drove away Satan with pebbles when Satan tried to influence him to disobey God's commandment to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, on the command of God. 'The pilgrims, numbering one million, were at the site between 1.30pm and 2.30pm to do the third and final throwing of pebbles, one of the rites of Hajj, when the stampede occurred due to heat and pressure.