Two Injured, Three Kidnapped in Bandit Attack on Kankara General Hospital — Police
The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed that two people were injured and three others were kidnapped during a bandit attack at the Kankara General Hospital on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
In a statement released by police spokesperson, DSP Sadiq Aliyu, the attack occurred around 8:20 p.m. when a group of armed bandits, brandishing AK-47 rifles, stormed the hospital, opening fire and causing widespread panic among both staff and patients. The assailants targeted the facility, shooting indiscriminately before security personnel from the Kankara Divisional Police Headquarters arrived, prompting a gunfight that forced the bandits to flee.
Two individuals were injured during the attack: Dr. Murtala Saleh, a 30-year-old medical professional, who was shot in the right thigh, and Kamala Suleiman, a 20-year-old hospital worker, who sustained a gunshot wound to his knee. Both victims were quickly transported to a nearby medical facility and are said to be in stable condition.
Despite the quick response from security forces, the bandits managed to abduct three individuals from the hospital. The identities of the kidnapped victims have been withheld by the authorities for security reasons.
Katsina State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Musa, condemned the attack, calling it a senseless assault on healthcare workers and the critical infrastructure of the state. He has ordered a heightened manhunt for the assailants and deployed additional police units to the area to bolster security and assist in the search and rescue efforts.
“Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims and the arrest of the perpetrators,” DSP Aliyu said.
The police have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement by reporting any suspicious activities that may assist in the investigation and apprehension of the attackers.
Authorities have assured the public that updates on the investigation and ongoing rescue operations will be provided as more information becomes available.