Gunmen invade Ekiti hospital, demand new born babies

Five gunmen, suspected to be ritualists on Sunday
invaded the government hospital in Ado-Ekiti,
demanding for new born babies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
gunmen who were said to be numbering about five,
arrived at the hospital at about 1:00 a.m. demanding
for a day old babies, and beating 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 1:00 a.m. and suddenly
began molesting medical officials on night duty.
According to the officer, the invaders, who were fully
armed, demanded for the whereabouts of a particular
baby, said to have been delivered earlier in the day.
a baby: wanted by gunmen
"They got more annoyed when they were told that no
baby was available in the hospital as at the time they
came, it angered then the more and they went
berserk,'' the officer said.
This development, NAN learnt angered the men who
beat up the hospital staff and injured some of them.
"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.
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
to see things for himself, described the incident as
"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 when tight security measures,
which would include fencing of all health centres will
be done.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor
Babayemi, ASP, who was surprised at the
development, however said the incident was yet to
be reported to the police command.