At least two persons were shot dead while many were abducted when bandits broke into AbdulSalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu, Lapai local government area of Niger State, on Monday night.
While the identities of those killed had not been ascertained as of press time, it has been confirmed that among those abducted were a medical doctor, a pharmacist, nurses as well as patients and their relations.
It was gathered that among the hospital staff abducted were Head, Clinical Services simply identified as Dr. John, Head of Haematology, Usman Zabbo, and a staff member of medical lab, Awaisu Bida. Also abducted were the wife of the Head of Nursing Services and his daughters, wife and a daughter of the Chief Pharmacist, and many other relatives of the patients.
The attack was believed to be a targeted operation to get health personnel to treat some of the injured bandits in the forest. According to a staff member, who wasn’t on duty during the attack, told newsmen that those patients whose cases were not severe were the ones that were kidnapped. He said the attackers, who operated for several hours, shot sporadically throughout unchallenged, as vigilantes ran for their lives.
Another source said several people, especially women and children from the community, have fled to the neighbouring villages and the Lapai town, the Local Government Headquarters.
The Niger State Police Command were yet to comment. It’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, promised to get back with details of the attack.
