By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least two persons have been shot dead while others were abducted following the invasion of Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, on Monday night by suspected bandits.
A Daily Trust report indicates that among those abducted were a medical doctor, a pharmacist, nurses as well as patients and their relations, even as identities of those killed have not been ascertained.
The report says others staff of the hospital kidnapped include, the Head, Clinical Services simply identified as Dr. John, Head of Hematology, Usman Zabbo, and a staff member of medical lab, Awaisu Bida.
Others are, 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.
There are speculations that the operation was a targeted attack to get health personnel to treat some of the injured bandits in the forest.
One of the locals who didn’t want his name in print alleged that the bandits on their numbers came into Gulu community around 2:30am to 3am and in the process raided General Hospital.
He confirmed the killing of two people whose houses were directly opposite the hospital.
No official statement has been released by the Niger state police command.
Nigeria has been battling security challenge from the Islamist Boko Haram who seek to establish an Islamic state governed by by Sharia law. Banditry in the North has also led to abduction of several thousands of people yet with no definite ideology.
President Muhammadu Buhari whose tenure in office expires next year, has vowed to crush the criminal elements behind banditry as well as rescue all abducted persons in their camps.
