Gunmen Attack Doctors Demanding For COVID-19 Screening Center In Kogi State

Unknown gunmen reportedly attacked a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), in Lokoja, KogI State, to prevent doctors from holding their press conference and protest against the lack of COVID-19 screening centre in the state. The attack happened in a state whose government has refused to recognise the existence of COVID-19 in the state.

According to a report from investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, the gunmen arrived at the Federal Medical Centre in Hilux vans, with one of the vehicles used to block the entrance of the premises. In the pictures seen from the attack, entrance to the hospital was shattered, and sporadic shot was made into the air to scare away those present at the location.

"Dozens of plain-clothed gunmen who arrived in three white Hilux vans have just finished terrorising staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, who were planning a press conference/protest to pressure FG into establishing a COVID-19 screening centre in the state. One van barricade the hospital gate while the other two drove in," Fisayo posted on Twitter. 

How Bloodshed Was Averted At The Hospital

The gunmen reportedly carted away laptops and destroyed other things after gaining entry into the records & admin department. In order to avoid bloodshed, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers at the location were urged by the hospital management not to shoot.

"The gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare people away, then went to the records & admin depts, where they seized laptops and destroyed a few things. They ransacked the Medical Director’s office too. As the siege went on, the hospital management instructed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials in the hospital not to shoot, to prevent bloodshed.

"I understand the hospital associations have told all staff to evacuate the hospital. This means the hospital has effectively shut down, which is very terrible news to ordinary Kogi people without the economic power to seek medical care in private hospitals."

What Could Have Led To The Attack?

The doctors had planned to protest and demand for COVID-19 screening center, a demand that is likely not in favour of the state government that has insisted that the state has no record of COVID-19. The state government and the NCDC have traded words a few times regarding the status of COVID-19 within Kogi.

The government has stated that NCDC is wrong with its statistics as Kogi doesn't have COVID-19 case, as it has a tech app that tracks COVID-19. AllNews check on NCDC data showed that Kogi State has the lowest confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 36 states in Nigeria, accounting for four out of the 25,694 cases.

The four are still on admission according to NCDC data. AllNews had reported that yesterday, Nigeria recorded 561 new confirmed cases in 24-hours on June 30, 2020, with Lagos, Edo and Kaduna recording some of the highest number of cases. the new figure takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the country to 25,694.

The Chief Judge in Kogi State, Nasir Ajanah, on Sunday died at the COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja.