Armed bandits stormed Kurfi General Hospital in Kurfi local government area of Katsina state, shot a watchman and whisked away four women, including the wife of one of the health officials on duty.

A source from the area told the Daily Trust that three of the bandits who entered the hospital around 10:45am on Thursday, September 12, later engaged the guardsman who intercepted them to inquire about their mission at the hospital.

“Whey they started arguing, the watchman quickly went and locked the hospital gate, unknown to him that other armed members of the attackers were outside,” the source said.

“They jumped over the wall fence and shot the watchman in the stomach. It was thought that he had died but was later given first aid and rushed to a hospital in Katsina.”

It was gathered that the attackers had wanted to abduct one Mustapha Hamza, a casual staff of the hospital on duty at the time, but he luckily escaped.

Unfortunately, his wife, who accompanied him to the hospital, was abducted in the process.

“Mustapha is an anesthesia nurse and he was on call at the time to attend to a woman who would undergo surgery,” the source who craved anonymity said.

 “Usually, his wife would follow him whenever he was called because she would not be comfortable staying back home alone. And that was how she fell victim in the attack.”

The Kurfi council chairman, Mannir Shehu Wurma, confirmed the attack, assuring that the council is on top of the situation.