The Kogi state government says the attack at the Federal
Medical Centre (FMC) on Wednesday was by relatives of patients abandoned by the
staff of the hospital.
Gunmen had attacked the medical centre in Lokoja, Kogi state
capital, and disrupted a COVID-19 press conference.
They also carted away laptops, valuable documents and
destroyed some properties at the facility.
But in a statement, Kingsley Fanwo, commissioner of
information and communications, said the relatives of the patients only
embarked on a protest at the hospital.
“Preliminary findings revealed that the violence ensued when
relations of patients in the medical facility protested against the failure of
the management of the hospital to attend to them,” Fanwo said.
“Many people in the emergency ward were left unattended to
and a mother delivered at the gate of the hospital. That generated a lot of
public tension in the state.
“Tension started building since yesterday when patients and
their relatives learnt of a plan by the medical staff to stage a protest today,
seeking protection from COVID-19.
“We urge the people of the state to remain calm as
government will ensure maintenance of law and order.
“We also sue for calm and urge medical authorities to remain
committed to their medical profession and responsibilities as Government will
protect them in order to give them the confidence to deliver. Healthcare
management must never be politicized.
“Also, government will carry out further investigations to
ascertain the remote causes of the breach of peace by the protesters and also
address their fears.”
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