Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock at the kidnapping of five newborn babies by gunmen suspected of belonging to secessionist militias that have continued to attack soft targets in Nigeria's South East.

On Thursday, gunmen attacked Stanley Hospital in Nkpologwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, the state of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who has been fighting terrorists and gunmen.

President Buhari, alarmed by the gunmen's actions, directed on Friday that the "strange incident must be resolved immediately."

He ordered that hospital security be made impenetrable so that similar attacks do not occur again.

Crime control

He also directed the military to reduce the rising crime rate in the areas as soon as possible.

The marauders, who are thought to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militia, also stole the babies' wrappers and clothes.

Residents expressed concern that the incident could have been staged for ritualistic purposes.

The gunmen did not kill anyone, nor did they burn down any police stations or attack the Independent National Electoral Commission's facilities, which are their usual targets.

"They didn't shoot like they usually do, but they drove to the hospital early in the morning, took the newly born babies, and drove away."

"We were told that they threatened to kill anyone who spoke up in that hospital." "Everyone in Anambra is terrified right now," a hospital patient said.

One of the doctors, who did not want to be identified, stated that they were likely to repeat the latest strategy because it was successful.

It is not safe.
According to the doctor, security in Anambra State is porous, and "nowhere is safe again."

Gunmen had also threatened to make Anambra ungoverned because the governor increased security to prevent mayhem from being perpetrated by the secessionist group and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The banned IPOB and its ESN have been engaged in a violent campaign in the south-eastern states of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia, which they have expelled from Nigeria and declared a sovereign country of Biafra, similar to what happened in 1967.

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader and founder of IPOB, has been in detention since 2020, facing trial for treason, felony, and murder, but his supporters have continued the movement.