No fewer than 54 Nigerians have been confirmed dead during last Thursday's stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.   

The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, gave the confirmation on Monday at a news conference in Makkah.

Mukhtar said 61 other pilgrims suffered injuries during the incident.

He said 42 of the deceased were transported to Suadi Arabia by state Pilgrims' Welfare Agencies while 12 came through Private Tour Operators.

The deceased according to Mukhtar were from Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba and Zamfara.

The chairman also said that out of the injured 61 pilgrims, 16 were transported by Private Tour Operators and the remaining 45 by state Pilgrims' Welfare Agencies.

He said the commission was still investigating to ascertain the number and condition of some pilgrims who have gone missing after the incident.

He also said the commission had set up three committees to condole with the families of the deceased, arrange befitting burial for the deceased and also collate information from eye witnesses.