‘Gunmen targeting doctors to treat injured bandits’ — NMA asks Zamfara to improve security

The Zamfara chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has given the state government two weeks to beef up  security in all healthcare facilities. 

The ultimatum comes hours after gunmen reportedly attacked a general hospital in Dansadau, Maru LGA of the state, and abducted two persons, including a health worker.

Speaking to journalists after an emergency meeting on Saturday, Mannir Bature, chairman of the association in Zamfara, said medical workers in the state are being targeted by bandits.

He said the association will carry out an assessment of the security situation at medical facilities in two weeks, after which it will withdraw its services if there is no improvement.

“NMA Zamfara is also made to believe that these armed bandits are targeting doctors and other healthcare workers for kidnap for ransom, or are actually looking for healthcare workers that can treat probably some of their injured members, and as such we believe with this pressure and the risk on doctors and other healthcare workers is high,” he said.

“NMA Zamfara is going to work with other health professional associations in the state to review this call in two weeks’ time, and at the end of it, we are going to make an assessment regarding the compliance to this call.

“In the event that the government and security agencies fail to secure health facilities, we will be left with no option than to adopt a strategy for temporary healthcare services in the state.”