Monday, May 18, 2026

Terrorists planning to kidnap doctors, nurses to treat wounded, sick insurgents, Plateau hospital CMD warns in internal memo

The hospital said the plan reflects a tactical shift by the group to sustain operational capability and reduce mortality among their fighters.

• April 14, 2026
Bandits with RPG
Bandits [Credit; ACCORD]

The management of Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, has raised an alarm over alleged plans by bandits and other terrorist groups to abduct medical practitioners in the state.

The hospital disclosed this in a memo dated April 13, 2026.

 “Intelligence has uncovered a plan by terrorist groups to kidnap medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, and other auxiliary health workers, particularly in frontline states, including Plateau State, to provide treatment for their members who sustained gunshot wounds and other bodily injuries during engagement with security forces,” the memo read.

“This development reflects a tactical shift by the group, aimed at sustaining operational capability and reducing mortality among their fighters. The trend poses a serious risk to healthcare workers, especially in the hinterlands,” it added.

The memo further stated that health workers need to adopt personal and workplace security measures to avoid becoming victims of these bad elements.

“Also, it is expedient that all hospitals and health centres in the state sensitise their workers to be vigilant and report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies for prompt action, while ongoing efforts by security agencies to avert any untoward developments continue,” it added.

A medical doctor at the hospital, who spoke to Peoples Gazette on the condition of anonymity, said that despite the memo, there is no security presence at the hospital.

“The memo is true, but there is no security deployed to the hospital so far”, the doctor said, adding that only civil defence and one civilian were stationed at the hospital’s gate.

“There are no police or soldiers in the hospital. Everybody needs to be cautious because of what is happening.” 

Efforts to speak with the state police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful, as messages sent to him were unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

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