The Kogi Non-Governmental Organizations Network (KONGONET) has described the attack on the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja by hoodlums on Wednesday as a threat to lives of the entire citizenry.
In a statement issued by the Chairman, Idris Ozovehe Muraina in Lokoja on Saturday, KONGONET called on law enforcement agencies in the State to fish out those behind the barbaric act.
KONGONET said the attack at the health center is unfortunate, worrisome and unexpected.
“We are perplexed with this shocking news that hoodlums invaded the most reliable functional health centre in Kogi State in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic. It is a clear fact, that the state cannot ascertain the reality of its citizen’s COVID-19 status even though the government of the day has maintained its stands that the state is free from the dreaded pandemic that has claimed several lives in the world.
“All we are demanding right now is that all those behind this act be arrested and brought to book. Attacking a health facility automatically means you want to sentence the whole citizens to their early graves. How many individuals in Kogi can afford a private hospital for a checkup? How many of us here as we are speaking could beat his chest and say we are happy because the state has a good health care centre which would cater for our health needs? Something must be done immediately, to avert a repeat of this disgraceful attack on the state,” he stated.
On Wednesday, unknown gunmen stormed the Federal Medical Center in the heart of Lokoja and disrupted a COVID-19 press conference.
The hospital had scheduled a media briefing for the day to demand a COVID-19 screening centre in the state and to also speak about the challenges health workers are facing with regard to the disease. The hoodlums destroyed properties and making away with blood samples, laptops, phones, medical records and other personal effects.
