On the 12th of March 2023, armed assailants, believed to be involved in kidnapping activities, launched an attack on the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) located in Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State. This incident marked yet another unsettling event following a previous abduction of a resident doctor earlier in the year. Reports indicate that the perpetrators targeted a female deputy director and a security personnel from the hospital.
In a distressing turn of events, a video circulating online revealed an abandoned SUV purportedly belonging to the kidnapped nurse, displaying bullet-ridden glass on the front passenger side. This occurrence mirrored a similar incident where a medical doctor was abducted from the same location a few weeks prior, as confirmed by a reliable source.
The atmosphere among hospital staff was tense and fraught with concern regarding their safety. “This is so sad; we are not safe at all in this hospital; everywhere is porous,” expressed a distressed staff member.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged on the 13th of March 2023, as the Enugu State Police Command successfully rescued the kidnapped security man. The command issued a statement affirming the rescue operation and the launch of a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted nurse.
While details from the hospital remained scarce, anonymous hospital staff corroborated the incident, echoing the prevailing sense of insecurity within the institution.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, officially confirmed the rescue operation and reiterated the directive from the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, to prioritize the rescue of the nurse.
According to the statement, the security man, who was abducted alongside the nurse, was rescued in Ishi-Ozalla, within the Nkanu West Local Government Area, at approximately 11:45 pm on the same day as the incident. The intense rescue operation involved collaboration with the Neighborhood Watch Group, Forest Guards, and Local Vigilantes.
As the search for the missing nurse and the perpetrators continues, the public, particularly residents of Ituku-Ozalla and its environs, are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to the authorities.
it is also instructive to know that UNTH Otiku Uzala Is also a learning Environment for Aspiring medical Doctors trained from the university of Nigeria, it is quiet disturbing on the porosity of the security architecture of a learning envoronment and the safety of our students.
Your words have a way of resonating deeply with your readers Thank you for always being encouraging and uplifting