COVID-19: Armed protesters attack, vandalise Lokoja Federal Medical Centre

Scores of armed protesters on Wednesday stormed the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, destroying the administrative block and carting away computers and office files believed to be related to COVID-19.

A hospital source said that the protesters numbering about 50 arrived on the premises of the FMC, brandishing placards and dangerous weapons.

It was learnt that the demonstration was not unconnected with the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read, ‘The state government is not doing anything about the excesses of FMC, Lokoja’; ‘Please help us PMB’; There is isolation centre in FMC, Lokoja with equipment, why are they unutilised?’; ‘Other FMCs across the federation are handling the pandemic, GYB/PMB, come to our rescue’.

Swift intervention of the police in the state, however, said the situation from degenerating to a free-for-all.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Tunde Alabi, could not be reached for comments.

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, was said not to be available as at the time of filing this report.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.