A 31-year-old nurse at the Zebilla Hospital in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region has died after some suspected armed robbers shot her at about 0200hours on Tuesday.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that the nurse, identified as Ishmael Bashiru Pumi who heading from Bolgatanga to Zebilla, unknowingly drove into an ongoing robbery incident at the Tilli forest where armed men, suspected to be Fulanis had blocked the road with their cattle.

Mr Paul Asio, a close friend of the late nurse, who was in the car with him, narrating the incident stated that, “When we were approaching the truck, I told Prince that it was a broken-down vehicle so he should be careful. Immediately we bypassed it, the Fulani people shot directly into the head of Prince. He lost control, and the car stopped. I lowered down myself so the bullet grazed my forehead”.

He said the robbers were about five in number, with two holding guns, “They came to the car, pulled Prince out, in a pool of blood, they pulled me out, searched our bags took our monies and phones.

“When they saw the way Prince was bleeding one of the robbers spoke the Kusaal language saying that they should give my phone back to me to call for Prince to be taken to hospital else he will die. I called a friend to go to the Police station and report, so within 30 minutes the Police came and picked six of us to the Zebilla Hospital.”

Mr Denis Kpireu-Ib Benyuur, the Bawku West District Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) confirmed to the GNA that Mr Pumi was subsequently referred from the Zebilla Hospital to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he passed on.

He said the late nurse worked at the Paediatric Unit of the Zebilla Hospital, adding that he worked on morning shift on the day of the attack.

The Chairman said “He was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state, he was transfused with two units of blood and referred to TTH, where he died.

“This is very sad news to us, as an Association, we just buried a nurse last two weeks who was involved in an accident. It’s really a big blow to us. Nurses at the Zebilla Hospital are heartbroken and down spirited, even though we are still carrying out our duties as professionals.”

Mr Benyuur called on the Zebilla Police Command to beef up security on the Bolgatanga-Zebilla road which he said had recorded several robbery attacks over the years.

He further urged nurses and midwives in the District not to relent on their mandate in spite of the challenges.

The Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Fianko Okyere who confirmed the robbery incident said “Investigation is ongoing, it is too early for us to come out with any other details, at the appropriate time, we will come out with information”.

Some colleagues of the late nurse at the Hospital described him as a hard-working nurse who doubled as a musician who performs at entertainment shows across the Region and beyond to the admiration of his audience.