Security has been beefed up at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, over suspicion that hoodlums were planning to attack the tertiary health institution.
The planned attack was disclosed by UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Toye Akinrinlola, on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo.
This was just as the Federal Ministry of Health alerted all teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, specialists‘ hospitals and other tertiary hospitals in Nigeria of the plans to attack them.
According to the statement issued by Akinrinlola, he said that the UCH’s attention was drawn to the plans by the suspected hoodlums to attack the hospital.
“Consequently, the honourable ministers in the ministry have directed all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to beef up security around their facilities.
“We are at UCH have taken bold steps to ensure the safety of lives and property within the hospital.
“Very early this morning (Sunday, October 25, 2020), the CMD, Professor Abiodun Otegbayo called His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to brief him on the development.
“The Governor assured the CMD that adequate security measures will be put in place to protect the UCH and other health Institutions in the state.
“Also, the CMD has called on the heads of all security agencies to provide security support to UCH, and to which we have received positive responses.
“The CMD therefore wishes to assure the staff, students and patients in the Hospital that they are safe, as well as their properties,” the PRO stated.
Akinrinlola added that Prof. Otegbayo urged everyone to be conscious of their environment and take measures to ensure the security of their properties.
Reporters At Large learnt that operatives such as Operation Burst and Police Mobile Force were on ground to secure the hospital surroundings.