Unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits on Sunday kidnapped some babies and five staff from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Sources said the bandits, who attacked the hospital in large numbers, engaged security operatives from a nearby police station in a shootout.

An official of the health facility who craved anonymity disclosed that a principal security guard on duty was among the people abducted.

“Those kidnapped were our staff living at the staff quarters, some were abducted alongside their children. So about ten people were taken away so far,” he said.

Also, confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Medical and Health Union of the Center, Maryam Abdulrazaq, said she compiled six names of those abducted.

She said the latest incident made it the third time their staff were abducted by the bandits.

“So far, I have six names of the people abducted but I will try to get the remaining four names by Monday God willing. The principal
Security guard on duty, two nurses Joy Yakubu and Odor and her baby, lab technician Christiana, Kasim from Auditorium office were among those kidnapped,” she said.

According to Daily Trust, the hospital wall was riddled with bullet holes which were also visible on the fence.

The source said the bandits were said to have blocked the bridge linking the village with Zaria town, to forestall reinforcement by the police.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident, saying efforts
are on to rescue the victims.