JUST IN: Suspects arrested in connection with theft at Federal Health Centre Pakiotan Ogbomoso

Image caption: Photo sourced from Google used as illustration

JUST IN: Suspects arrested in connection with theft at Federal Health Centre Pakiotan Ogbomoso

Khalid ABRAHAM

Some suspects might have been arrested in connection with the large scale theft reported at the 80 – bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital Pakiotan Ogbomoso Oyo state.

This is according to an impeccable source at the Divisional Police headquarters, Owode, Ogbomoso.

Though the source informed ogbomosoinsightonline.com investigations are ongoing to get to the roots of the robbery and vandalization towards determining the culpability of the suspects. Items such as ceiling fans, cables, electrical wires and appliances, solar batteries and panels and other valuables were said to have been carted away by the criminals. A giant generating set and interlocking floors were also damaged to effect the removal of armoured cables.

The hospital

The hospital belonging to the Federal Government was commissioned on May 27, 2023, following which it was thrust to the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan to run and manage.

Well equipped and fully completed, boasting state-of-the-art facilities such as beds, drugs, generating sets, laboratory equipment, and other medical consumables, it however suffered abandonment.

The vandalized generator

Damaged floor

The theft was discovered Wednesday after neighbours noticed some signs of digging in the premises. The Baale Pakiotan, High Chief James Oyetunji Ojo was instantly alerted following which the monarch informed an aide of Chief Sunday Dare, a former Minister of Youths and Sports, who facilitated the project and personally replaced some items similarly stolen towards the commissioning in 2023.

The aide, Hon Ademola Olawale a.k.a. Agba Demo, reportedly responded promptly and opened the place to assess the extent of theft and damage. The chairman of Ogbomoso North local government Hon George Ogunlade also promptly visited the location.

Meanwhile, all pointed accusing finger at the management of the UCH for its lethargy towards the multi-million naira hospital.

“I always call and send texts to the CMD (Chief Medical Director) of the UCH but there is never a response,” Hon Olawale lamented.

“It is unfortunate this has happened,” Baale Pakiotan also said while reacting. “If this place is being used such a thing wouldn’t have happened. We got security agents both conventional and non-conventional to patrol the place but you see it is locked, they can only see the outside and unawares of what goes on inside. Thus we appeal to the management of the UCH to open this place for operation, it is a huge investment that must not be allowed to go into ruins. Government has committed much to the hospital. The family also donated 8 plots of land for the project. Let there be positive results.”

Hon Ogunlade similarly expressed sadness calling on the Federal Government to ensure the place begins operation. He promised to get security agents to man the place.