About 12 suspected
cult members reportedly invaded and robbed patients at the Agbarho
General Hosptal located on the outskirts of Agbarho, a quiet town in
Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State last week. The
hoodlums entered the hospital premises through the back of the
hospital. Behind the hospital are about six acres of land, mostly used
for farming. The bush gave the robbers cover to gain easy access to the
wards.
The robbers
allegedly dispossessed patients in all the wards of their cash and
mobile phones. When NEXT visited the hospital last Saturday, the wards
were nearly empty, except for a few patients. The nurses and other
workers were unwilling to speak about the robbery and refused to direct
this reporter to the medical officer on duty on the night of the
robbery.
A middle-aged man
in the residential area of the hospital premises confirmed the robbery.
The man, who did not want to be identified, added that the invaders
probably raped some of their victims.
“You know they will
not want to tell you all that the guys did to them, maybe for fear that
their boyfriends or husbands will not be happy with them,” he said.
The man who spoke
with NEXT identified a young woman who had just entered the hospital
premises as one of the affected patients. When NEXT approached her, she
refused to divulge any information.
“Me no know wetin
you dey talk about, abi you see me on top bed for inside the ward?
Nobody robbed me, (I do not what you are talking about. Did you see me
on a bed inside the ward?),” she shouted.
The only security
officer on duty that night was allegedly asleep at the gate house while
the operation lasted. Residents of Agbarho who responded to enquiries
by NEXT confirmed that the town had a problem with cults.
“Many primary school students are now cultists,” said a resident who
gave his name as Ejovwo. The divisional police officer of the local
police station was unavailable for comment.
