Suspected Ritualists Storm Ekiti Hospital

gunmen

Five gunmen suspected to be ritualists invaded the government hospital in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, demanding the staff to give them a new born baby.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gunmen beat up staff who could not give satisfactory answer.

A senior health officer, who pleaded anonymity, said that the armed men invaded the hospital located along Irona area at about 01:00 and suddenly began molesting medical officials on night duty.

According to the officer, the invaders, who were fully armed, were demanding 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 babies were at the hospital, it angered them and they went berserk,” the officer said.

“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 more and they descended on the staff , beating us. Some of them were busy ransacking the place in search of babies,” the source said.

When contacted, the Chairman of Ado Local Government, Mr Tope Olanipekun confirmed the incident, saying this is “a new twist to crime in the area”.

Olanipekun, who claimed to have visited the hospital, described the incident as “the highest point of callousness on the part of the perpetrators”.

“As I speak, the incident actually happened and I want to assure you that we are taking step to forestall a recurrence.”

The chairman said that he had already ordered that night duty be suspended in all the hospitals in the council, pending tight security measures which would include fencing of all health centres.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, ASP, who was surprised by the development, however said the incident was yet to be reported to the police command. [NAN]