The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has condemned the recent abduction of healthcare workers and patients by armed bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attackers stormed the Primary Healthcare Centre in Layin Dan Auta village, Kuyello Ward, on Monday, abducting two nurses and several patients, the exact number of whom remains unclear.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas called for immediate action from the country’s security agencies to secure the release of those kidnapped. He urged the security forces to intensify their efforts to curb the rising trend of kidnapping, especially of vulnerable populations in crucial areas like hospitals.

“The activities of bandits have become too rampant, especially with this recent attack on vulnerable targets such as a hospital,” the Speaker lamented. He stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “Our security forces need to, as a matter of emergency, go after the abductors and rescue those abducted from the health facility. They must ensure that no Nigerian kidnapped in any part of the country remains in captivity.”

Speaker Abbas also called for sustained efforts to rid all parts of the country of the scourge of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. His remarks come amidst growing concerns over the security situation in the region and the increasing frequency of attacks targeting civilians, healthcare workers, and public institutions.

The incident in Kaduna follows a worrying trend of kidnappings across Nigeria, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures to protect vulnerable communities from banditry and terrorism.