Gunmen on Wednesday raided the Kankara General Hospital in Katsina State’s Kankara Local Government Area, shooting a medical practitioner named Murtala Dandashire in the thigh.
The Katsina State Police Command also confirmed that another individual, whose identity has not been revealed, was shot and injured during the attack.
Our correspondent also learnt that the gunmen took five other people before fleeing the site.
Bakatsine, a banditry crisis analyst known on social media as @Dankatsina50, revealed in a post on Wednesday that the attackers belonged to the terrorist group Boko Haram.
According to @Dankatsina50, Dandashire, a Kankara Local Government native, was the finest graduating medical student of the 2019 class at Ahmadu Bello University Medical School in Zaria, Kaduna State.
He wrote, “Yesterday night, bandits stormed Kankara General Hospital in Kankara LGA of Katsina State; they shot Dr. Murtala Sale Dandashire and abducted five people in the hospital.
“There is a need to improve security in the hospitals across Katsina State. Within three months, bandits have reportedly entered three hospitals: Kurfi General Hospital, Mai Tsani Hospital in Dutsin-Ma LGA, and Kankara General Hospital.”
When approached for comment on Wednesday, Abubakar Aliyu, spokesperson for the state police command, acknowledged the attack by the gunmen on the hospital and indicated that the police were successful in keeping the situation from escalating further.
“Yes, the doctor and one other individual were shot during the incident. Our team quickly responded and prevented further escalation. Unfortunately, both individuals sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical treatment. Additional details will be shared with you shortly,” he said.