Bandits have broken into Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, on Monday night and abducted a medical doctor, a pharmacist, and nurses as well as patients and their relations.
During the raid, at least two persons were shot dead, though their identities had not been ascertained as of press time,
It was learnt that the attack targeted an operation to get health personnel to treat some of the injured bandits in the forest.
Among those abducted were the Head, of Clinical Services identified as Dr. John, the Head of Hematology, Usman Zabbo, and a staff member of the medical lab, Awaisu Bida.
Others were the wife of the Head of Nursing Services and his daughters, the wife and daughter of the Chief Pharmacist, and many other relatives of the patients.
A staff member who wasn’t on duty during the attack told the Daily trust correspondent on the telephone that patients whose cases were not severe were kidnapped.
“This is one of the most devastating experiences. To be honest with you, Gulu General Hospital has collapsed because we cannot stay here any longer. Every staff member on duty last night was taken. They just left a few patients whose cases were severe. This is heartless,” he said.
One of the locals who didn’t want his name in print told Daily Trust via telephone said the attackers who operated for several hours shot sporadically throughout unchallenged as vigilantes ran for their lives.
“Kidnappers in their large numbers came to Gulu around 2:30 am to 3 am and in the process raided General Hospital. They killed two people whose houses were directly opposite the hospital and many people including the hospital Doctor, Dr. John, and the Pharmacist were kidnapped,” he said.
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’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun promised to make details of the attack.
