Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano’s largest state-owned healthcare facility, has become a hotspot for criminal activities, with increasing reports of phone snatching, robbery, and attacks on staff and visitors.
A social media post by Ahmed Deedat highlights growing concerns over the rising presence of hoodlums in the area, making patients, their relatives, and hospital staff easy targets for criminals.
Recently, a midwife at the hospital was attacked and injured by phone snatchers. Other incidents have seen staff and visitors robbed at knifepoint, losing phones, bags, and other valuables.
In a particularly alarming case last year, a doctor was threatened while attending to patients at her desk, while a nurse had to crawl under a patient’s bed to escape attackers. The worsening insecurity has sparked calls for urgent intervention from security agencies.
While the hospital management has taken steps to improve security within the premises, the problem extends beyond its gates, making the surrounding area unsafe. The constant fear of attacks has made it difficult for healthcare workers to perform their duties effectively, with criminals operating with seeming impunity.
An investigation by NEWS BULLETIN confirmed the worsening security situation, with a hospital source—who requested anonymity—stating that most phone-snatching incidents occur outside the hospital premises.
“Recently, some thugs attacked a staff member, Dogara, injuring him with a machete before stealing his phone,” the source said.
“Even doctors are not spared. A female doctor, Dr. Fatima, was attacked and robbed after her night shift. Once it gets dark, people become anxious about carrying their phones. The main concern is getting home safely.”
Efforts to reach the Kano State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, for comments were unsuccessful.
The crisis is not new. In 2023, multiple fatalities linked to phone-snatching incidents prompted the state government to declare a state of emergency on the menace in July. A special task force—including the police, military, NSCDC, and vigilante groups—was established to combat the threat.
Attempts to contact the Chairman of the Kano State Anti-Phone Snatching Committee, retired General Gambo Ahmed Mai’adua, were also unsuccessful.
However, security analyst and retired Captain Abdullahi Bakoji advised residents to take precautionary measures.
“People should avoid using their phones while walking, especially at night. They should also avoid boarding vehicles they do not trust and stay away from high-risk areas known for phone snatching,” he warned.
With insecurity around the hospital reaching alarming levels, residents and hospital staff are urging the authorities to take decisive action before the situation worsens further.
