Bandits Demand N540 Million Ransom After Attack on Kankara Hospital

In a disturbing escalation of insecurity in Katsina State, bandits have placed a hefty ransom of N540 million for the release of victims kidnapped from the General Hospital in Kankara Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred on a Tuesday, left a medical doctor, Dr. Murtala Sale Dandashire, and another individual with gunshot injuries, highlighting the brazen nature of the assault on a facility meant to serve and protect the community.

Among those kidnapped is Yusuf Muhammad Mairuwa, the Assistant Director of Nursing Services and head of the nursing section at the hospital. A source close to the matter revealed to DAILY POST that the bandits are demanding N270 million specifically for Mairuwa’s release. Furthermore, an additional N270 million has been requested for the liberation of other hospital staff and some workers from a nearby fertilizer factory who were also abducted during the same assault. This dual-target incident not only underscores the audacity of the bandits but also their strategic targeting of both medical and industrial personnel.

Following the attack, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State publicly condemned the act, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the safety of healthcare workers. In a statement, the Governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, emphasized that while progress had been made in curbing such attacks, this incident serves as a stark reminder that more needs to be done. “We are restrategising our security approach to ensure that our medical professionals can perform their vital duties without fear,” Governor Radda stated, promising an increase in security measures at healthcare facilities across the state.

This incident does not occur in isolation. Katsina State has been grappling with banditry, with attacks on schools, hospitals, and communities becoming increasingly common, disrupting lives and challenging the government’s security apparatus. The ransom demand is a grim indicator of the bandits’ financial motivations and their willingness to exploit vulnerable situations for gain.

The response from the state government, while commendable, is under scrutiny as residents and observers alike question the effectiveness of current strategies in mitigating such threats. The health sector, often seen as a sanctuary in times of crisis, becoming a target, raises significant concerns about the broader implications for public safety and the provision of essential services in conflict-prone areas.

As the community waits anxiously for the safe return of the abducted, the incident has sparked a broader dialogue on security, governance, and the socio-economic factors fueling banditry. The demand for such a large ransom also raises questions about the financial capabilities of these groups and the potential networks supporting their operations.

Governor Radda’s assurance of additional security measures is a step towards restoring confidence, but the path to peace and security in Katsina State will require not just reactive measures but proactive strategies to dismantle the networks of banditry and address the underlying issues driving such criminality.