Gunmen, suspected to be ritualists on Sunday invaded the government hospital located along Irona area in Ado-Ekiti, demanding for new born babies.
The gunmen who were said to be numbering about five, stormed the hospital at about 1:00 a.m. demanding for a day old babies, and beating up staff who could not give satisfactory answer and leaving them with injuries.
According to a senior health officer who pleaded anonymity, the gunmen, who were fully armed, were rhetorically demanding for the whereabouts of a particular baby, said to have been delivered earlier in the day.
“They got more annoyed when they were told that no baby was available in the hospital as at the time they came, it angered them the more and they went berserk.
“As a senior person on duty, I tried to convince them that all new born babies have been discharged from the centre in the last couple of days, but they refused to be convinced.
“This angered them the more and they descended on the staff beating us, some of them were busy ransacking the place in search of babies,” the source said.
Mr. Tope Olanipekun, Chairman of Ado Local Government, who confirmed the incident, described it as “highest point of callousness on the part of the perpetrators.”
Olanipekun, who claimed to have visited the hospital to see things for himself said, “this is a new twist to crime in the area.”
“As I speak, the incident actually happened and I want to assure you that we are taking step to forestall a recurrence.”
He added that he had already ordered that night duty be suspended in all the hospitals in the council, pending when tight security measures, which would include fencing of all health centres be taken.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, ASP, said the incident was yet to be reported to the police command.
He however expressed shock saying he was surprised at the development.
Source: Punch Nigeria
