N540m Ransom: The Katsina Hospital Kidnapping Ordeal Explained
Bandits recently attacked the General Hospital in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria, resulting in the abduction of several staff members, including Dr. Murtala Sale Dandashire, who sustained a gunshot injury during the assault.
The assailants have demanded a total ransom of N540 million for the release of the kidnapped individuals. This amount is divided into N270 million for the release of a senior nurse, Yusuf Muhammad Mairuwa, the Assistant Director of Nursing Services and head of the hospital’s nursing department, and an additional N270 million for other abducted hospital workers and employees of a nearby fertilizer factory taken during the same attack.
In response to the incident, Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda condemned the attack and reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the safety of healthcare workers. He acknowledged recent strides in reducing insecurity but emphasized the need for further action, stating, “This unfortunate event reminds us that our mission to safeguard lives and property is far from complete.”