At least two persons were shot dead when bandits attacked the Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to reports several persons including a doctor, nurses and patients, were abducted during the attack which happened in the early hours of Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
Among the hospital staff abducted were Head, Clinical Services simply identified as Dr. John, Head of Hematology, Usman Zabbo, and a staff member of medical lab, Awaisu Bida.
Also kidnapped were wife of the Head of Nursing Services and his daughters, wife and a daughter of the Chief Pharmacist.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen came in their numbers shooting sporadically while carrying out their operations without being challenged by security operatives or vigilantes.
A retired medical personnel simply identified as Ya- Tachi, who lives close to the hospital, was among the two killed.
A staff member who wasn’t on duty during attack told DailyTrust that patients whose cases were not severe were 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 said 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 said the attackers who operated for several hours shot sporadically through out 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 Headquarter.