COVID-19 briefing: Gunmen attack doctors, nurses, workers, journalists at Lokoja Federal Medical Centre

There was pandemonium at the premises of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi State, on Wednesday, as gunmen attacked doctors, nurses, workers, journalists and disrupted a COVID-19 press conference.

The media briefing was organised to demand a COVID-19 Screening Centre in the state and, according to a doctor, “expose the series of lies from the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration on Covid-19 and related deaths in our state”.
The doctor also declared that the briefing was to address challenges health workers are facing with regard to the disease.
Some prominent citizens of the Confluence State, including the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge, and others, have died mysteriously.
Despite the deaths, Bello believes Covid-19 is a hoax meant to deceive people of the North-Central state.
As the media briefing was about to begin, the armed men arrived at the premises in three vehicles and started shooting sporadically to disperse the meeting.

Some of the workers were beaten. Those injured were later taken to another hospital for treatment. Journalists scampered with their cameras and recorders.
Despite the fact that the FMC is less than 10 minutes from the Police Headquarters and Government House, the gunmen operated for more than 30 minutes unchallenged.
Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stationed at the hospital were helpless because, according to one of them, “these guys are well armed, we can’t confront them”.
Valuables such as laptops, phones, ATM cards, files and prepared statement were taken away.

Desktops, windows and door glasses were smashed.
Some patients were traumatised.
Freedom Online learned that some senior doctors “are already strategising on the next line of action”.