Panic broke out at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi on Monday after teargas allegedly fired by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to disperse protesters drifted into the hospital premises, leaving patients and caregivers gasping for breath.
The protesters had gathered at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi in support of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who was invited for questioning over alleged corruption linked to his time in office.
Witnesses said El-Rufai arrived at the EFCC office earlier in the day with hundreds of supporters, prompting heightened security and traffic congestion along the busy Jabi–Airport Road corridor.
Trouble began when security operatives moved to disperse the crowd. Shortly after teargas canisters were discharged, fumes reportedly wafted into the nearby hospital, causing distress among vulnerable patients, including pregnant women and children.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion as patients scrambled for safety within the complex, some covering their noses with face masks and pieces of cloth to shield themselves from the choking smoke.
A pregnant woman who spoke during her antenatal visit said, “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 questioned the proximity of the anti-graft agency’s headquarters to a major health facility, warning that discharging teargas near sick patients posed health risks.
The incident comes days after El-Rufai reportedly resisted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, further heightening tensions surrounding the ongoing investigation. As of press time, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the teargas incident.
