Robbers attack hospitals, beat patients, nurses

Armed robbers have attacked two private hospitals in Okitipupa, in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State in two separate attacks.

The attacks were allegedly carried out last week Sunday and Monday by the same gang.

According to a source, the robbers, who stormed the hospitals between 10pm and 11.30pm in the two days, collected undisclosed amount of money from the nurses and others at the hospitals.

According to the source, the hoodlums also collected some money from the patients on admission, while patients and nurses who had no money to give them were beaten up.

One of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The hoodlums were four in number; masked, and they came to the hospitals on motorcycles. They threatened to shoot anybody who did not cooperate with them, so all of us lied down and allowed them to carry out their operation without any hindrance.

“They asked everybody, including the patients, to bring out money and those who did not have money to give them were seriously beaten. It was very unfortunate. We tried our best to call the police, but we did not succeed because they also collected our phones and other valuables.” He added that nobody was killed or raped during the operation.

It was gathered that immediately after the attack on the first hospital, the victims reported the case at the police station in the town where the policemen promised to take action. But less than 24 hours, another attack was launched on another hospital in the town by the same gang.

All efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. Femi Joseph, proved abortive as his telephone line was switched off. But an officer in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad confirmed the incident, adding that the police were on the lookout for the hoodlums.