A group of men, reportedly led by an unnamed political leader have stormed the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja, attacking hospital workers.
The Herald gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday, with videos of the scene shared by a medical doctor on his X handle, k_f2d. According to the doctor, the group forcefully entered the hospital premises, expressing their frustration over the death of a patient.
The attackers demanded to see the doctors on duty at the medical facility, and in one of the videos shared, gunshots could be heard in the background.
The doctor explained that the men were upset over the loss of the patient, thereby targeting medical staff.
The doctor mentioned that one of the attackers was identified as a political leader.
“I was looking at them, confused because I don’t even know the patient in question. Next thing I know, the leader stoned his phones at me. We were just three doctors there. We stood up from there and went inside.
My team was called to the A&E to review a new patient. A group of men in kaftan broke through the gate and started demanding for the doctors on duty. Apparently, they lost a patient. And they came for the doctors. One of them, I learnt, is a political leader.
— Dr. Currency (@k_f2d) January 23, 2024
“They broke into the room where we were, held me and my male colleague, almost tearing our shirts. I was too confused to speak. They were so many. We managed to break away from the A&E and left to another ward,” the doctor tweeted.
The situation escalated further as the attackers reportedly started destroying property in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit, assaulting any hospital worker they encountered, including nurses, doctors, and security personnel.
They have disarmed the security men in the hospital. I don't feel safe pic.twitter.com/oADtWZgYXs
— Dr. Currency (@k_f2d) January 23, 2024
The hospital’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) intervened with a gun, leading to a struggle where shots were fired.
As a result of the violence, the hospital staff ran for protection in different locations within the hospital premises.