Abuja – Chaos erupted at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, on Tuesday after teargas reportedly fired by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to disperse pro- and anti-Nasir El-Rufai protesters drifted into the hospital, leaving patients and caregivers struggling to breathe.
The protesters had gathered at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi to support former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who was summoned for questioning over alleged corruption linked to his tenure. El-Rufai arrived earlier in the day with a large group of supporters, prompting a heightened security presence and significant traffic congestion along Jabi-Airport Road.
Eyewitnesses said panic ensued when operatives fired teargas to disperse the crowd, with the fumes spreading into the hospital premises. Vulnerable patients, including pregnant women and children, were forced to cover their noses with masks and cloths as they tried to move to safer areas within the facility.
A pregnant woman, who spoke to Vanguard during her antenatal visit, described the ordeal: “Even inside the hospital, everyone was struggling to breathe. My eyes were filled with tears, I was coughing, and it wasn’t just me. We were running into each other in panic. It was not a good experience at all.” She expressed concern over the location of the EFCC headquarters near a major health facility, highlighting the risks posed to sick and vulnerable patients.
The incident follows El-Rufai’s earlier confrontation with authorities at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport last weekend, which further intensified political tensions surrounding the ongoing investigation. At the time of reporting, the EFCC had not issued an official statement regarding the teargas incident.
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