Gunmen invade Bayelsa Hospital, attack patients, doctors

Unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers in the early hours of Tuesday raided a Government hospital in Bayelsa, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, carting away cash and valuables belonging to doctors on duty and patients as well.

The hospital is located along Opolo Road in Yenagoa, the state capital,

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. The suspected robbers were alleged to have broken into the hospital from the fence behind.

One of the Doctors on duty, Dr Okeleghel Awudumapu, told journalists that the robbery gang attacked while he was returning from his call room.

Dr Awudumapu said his belongings and that of patients from the labour ward and that of their family members were all carted away.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Fetepigi, described the act as barbaric.

According to Dr Fetepigi, the management of the hospital will collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure that measures are put in place to forestall future occurrence.

A security man at the hospital, Mr. James Benini, disclosed that it was the second time that the hospital would be attacked.

The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, while reacting to the incident on police/media platform operated by the Bayelsa State Police Command, said, “The incident is yet to be reported, I’ve contacted DPO, Ekeki to get information from the hospital.”