A security guard has been killed and 4 others including a policeman have been injured following an attack by unknown gunmen at the General Hospital in Barkin-Ladi local government area of Plateau State. 

The gunmen who stormed the hospital at about 10:00 pm on Monday and shot the security guard at close range, also matcheted a police operative and three other persons.

An eyewitness told The Nation; 

“The gunmen suspected to be killer herdsmen arrived at the gate of the hospital at about 10:00 pm. They released several gunshots into the air in order to have access to the hospital but in the process, the security guard at the gate who tried to resist them was shot dead while the policeman at the scene was matcheted but escaped.

“Three other persons were also wounded, the three and the wounded policeman are presently receiving treatment at the General Hospital.

“The incident caused panic in the hospital and the vicinity. Men of Operations Safe Haven arrived the scene shortly after the gunmen fled into the bush”

Chairman of Berom Youth Movement, Heipang district in the Local Government Area, Rwang Tengwong also confirmed the attack and also disclosed that the gunmen were stopped from entering the hospital. 

Tengwom said; 

“Around 10 pm on Monday, some armed men attacked the General Hospital in Barkin Ladi. The security guard there was killed. A police officer on duty at the hospital was macheted. Although he did not die, his riffle was taken away by the gunmen.”

He called on the security agents to investigate the attack on the hospital, describing it as “strange”.