AT least two people were shot dead and numerous others were kidnapped when bandits raided Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital in Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, yesterday night.
Although the identities of those who were killed were unknown at the time of publication, it has been established that among those taken hostage were a doctor, a pharmacist, nurses, patients, and their family members.
Information gathered reveals that the hospital staff members who were kidnapped included Dr. John, the head of clinical services, Usman Zabbo, the head of hematology, and Awaisu Bida, a member of the medical lab staff.
Also abducted were wife of the Head of Nursing Services and his daughters, wife and a daughter of the Chief Pharmacist, and many other relations 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.
A staff member who wasn’t on duty during attack revealed on telephone that patients whose cases were not severe were the ones kidnapped.
“This is one of the most devastating experience. To be honest with you, Gulu General Hospital has collapsed because we cannot stay here any longer. Every staff on duty last night was taken. They just left few patients whose cases were severe. This is heartless,” he said.
One of the locals who didn’t want his name in print told Correspondents via telephone that “kidnappers in their large numbers came to Gulu around 2:30am to 3am 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 added that the attackers operated for several hours as they shot sporadically through out without being challenged as vigilantes ran for their lives.
Another source reveals that several people especially women and children have deserted their homes and have fled to the neighbouring villages and the Lapai town, the Local Government Headquarters.
