Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the attack on Federal
Medical Center, Lokoja Kogi state by gunmen, who invaded the facility,
destroyed and carted away documents and equipment used for data
collection and management of COVID-19 in the state.
The party expressed shock over the violent attack, especially given
allegations in the public space that the gunmen were sponsored by the
Kogi state government, which was earlier alleged to have ordered Kogi
people not to visit the medical center for their medications, following
its reported disagreement with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control
(NCDC) on the state’s COVID-19 status.
The PDP insisted that such an attack on a medical facility cannot be
justified under any guise, whatsoever.
It is however revealing that the gunmen shot their way into the Medical
Center at the time the staffers were getting ready for a press
conference on issues related to the state’s COVID -19 status; invaded
the record and admin department where they destroyed sensitive documents
and carted away computers, in addition to ransacking the office of the
Chief Medical Director.
It is instructive to state that the target and mode of the attack
strongly expose a desperate mission to destroy gathered information,
suppress statistics and completely disrupt COVID-19 management effort in
state.
Nigerians are invited to note that the attack came just a day after Kogi
State Governor, Yahaya Bello, declared COVID-19 an artificial creation,
orchestrated to shorten the lifespan of the people.
The PDP recalled that it had on Monday raised alarm over the hostile
attitude of the Kogi state government towards the COVID-19 intervention
in the state, which is resulting in fear of unreported cases and alleged
“silent deaths” in the state.
The party lamented the situation in Kogi state and urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to call Governor Yahaya Bello to order, particularly
over his needless confrontation with the managers of COVID-19 issues in
the state.
The PDP also called on the security agencies to immediately commence a
high level investigation into the attack on the Federal Medical Center,
Lokoja and ensure that the gunmen and their sponsors are made to face
the wrath of the law.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
