The Kogi state government has reacted to the attack on the staff and patients of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) on Wednesday.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that unknown hoodlums had invaded the facility and destroyed some properties at the center. The gunmen also carted away laptops and some valuable documents.
But in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said relatives of patients abandoned by the hospital were responsible for the attack.
“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 learned 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 the government will ensure the 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.”
