Saturday PUNCH reports that several patients were forced to flee their hospital wards and beds following the violent attack by the NANS factions.
Police officers, however intervened by manning the National Hospital, and dispersing the rioters, in a bid to restore law and order.
Our correspondent also observed adequate reinforcement of police officers to the Central Area where the hospital and the International Conference Centre are domiciled on Friday.
Impeccable security sources who spoke to our correspondent on Friday revealed that a fight had earlier broken out between two NANS factions on Thursday, and the crisis continued on Friday leading to violent attacks that left some students injured and hospitalised.
The two injured NANS members were later taken to the National Hospital for medical care, and members of the opposing faction stormed the National Hospital on Friday in a bid to attack the injured members of the opposing faction after learning of their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that, following credible intelligence, operatives of the Department of State Services had on Thursday intercepted some NANS members and recovered two pump action guns and cartridges from them on their way to the convention.
Following the attack on the National Hospital on Friday, the major roads leading to the ICC and the National Hospital were deserted, while the police condoned off some sections of the highway.
When the National Hospital was contacted over the development on Friday night, the spokesperson, Dr Tayo Haastrup, confirmed the attack on the hospital while noting that the intruders’ aim was to attack the injured fractional members undergoing treatment.
When contacted for reaction over the development, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, asked to make inquiries about the incident and get back to our correspondent.
“I’ll make my findings and get back to you, please,” Adeh said.
