Katsina hospital attack: Bandits place N540m ransom on kidnapped staff

Bandits have placed N540 million ransom on the victims abducted this week from a General Hospital in Kankara local government area of Katsina State.

The attack on the hospital on Tuesday, January 21, left a medical doctor and one other individual with gunshot injuries.

Dr Murtala Sale Dandashire had sustained a gunshot injury when bandits attacked the hospital during which some staff members were kidnapped.

Yusuf Muhammad Mairuwa, an Assistant Director of Nursing Services and head of the nursing section of the hospital is one of the kidnapped victims.

Reports claim that the attackers had demanded a ransom of N270 million for the release of the nurse.

The bandits have also demanded another sum of N270 million for the other hospital staff and some staff of a fertilizer factory kidnapped close to the hospital during the attack.

According to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, he said;

“We are restrategising our security approach to ensure that our medical professionals can perform their vital duties without fear.

“The safety of our healthcare workers and residents remains our paramount concern.