Babies Kidnapped As Bandits Raid Kaduna Hospital

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted babies from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.

It was gathered that five staff of the hospital, including female nurses, were also abducted.

The bandits, who were said to have stormed the place in large numbers, engaged officers from a nearby police station in a gun battle.

A staff member of the hospital, who did not his name mentioned, told Daily Trust there was a heavy shootout during the operation.

He also said the principal security guard on duty was among the people abducted.

“Those kidnapped were our staff living at the staff quarters, some were abducted alongside their children. So, about ten people were taken away so far,” he said.

Also, confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of the Medical and Health Union of the Center, Maryam Abdulrazaq, said she compiled six names of those abducted.

She said the latest incident made it the third time their staff would be abducted.

“So far, I have six names of the people abducted but I will try to get the remaining four names by Monday God willing. The principal Security guard on duty, two nurses, Joy Yakubu and Odor and her baby, Lab Technician, Christiana, Kasim from Auditorium office were among those kidnapped,” she said.

When our correspondent visited the police division and the centre, bullet holes were visible on the fence.

The attackers were said to have blocked the bridge linking the village with Zaria town, to obviously thwart any reinforcement by the police.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident, saying efforts are on to rescue the victims.