Jonathan condemns killing of female health workers in Kano

By ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & BEN AGANDE

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday condemned the killing of  nine female health workers shot dead at community health centres during seperate attacks in Kano State.

Reacting to the killings, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered security agencies to provide maximum security to health workers who are engaged in administering polio vaccines to children in high risk areas.

Jonathan condemned “the dastardly terrorist attacks in Kano State which claimed the lives of health workers who were dutifully engaged in vaccinations to protect and save the lives of Nigerian children.”

The female health workers were Friday  morning shot dead at community health centres during seperate attacks in Kano State.

Eyewitness told Vanguard that that the first offensive on the polio workers which started at Filin Kashu, Ungwa-Uku General area left two dead and four others critically injured.

The sources said that the gunmen who moved about on tricycles arrived at the community health centre by 9.00am and opened fire on the defenseless paramedics before escaping in the ensuing pandemonium

Seven other female health workers were also killed at the Community Health Centre, Hotoro Haye.

It was gathered that the assailants also went to the health centre on a tricycle and sprayed the female workers with bullets while on duty.

Commenting on the development, the Kano Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf explained that “six were shot at Ungwa-Uku but two died while 4 survived”.

The state Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Kano Police Command, ASP, Magaji Majia confirmed that “nine female health workers were shot dead in separate attacks.”

Majia further stated that the “the dead bodies of the nine female health workers have been deposited at the Murtala Muhammad Hospital mortuary in the city,” adding however that “no arrests have  been made in connection with the killings, but investigations have commenced.