ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, on Monday collapsed at an official event in Bauchi.
The Minister who was in Bauchi to launch an empowerment programme at the NAADI Office, Sani Mallam Shopping plaza in Bauchi metropolis was said to have suddenly collapsed as she was delivering her speech.
The Minister who was seated close to the Bauchi state Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, was immediately rushed by officials to the Trauma center of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical attention.
Our correspondent learnt that the Minister, who hails from Bauchi State, had been in the state since Saturday and had some personal engagements in the state.
An eyewitness who did not want to be mentioned, disclosed that “since the Minister arrived the venue of the ceremony, she looked withdrawn, touching her head occasionally as the programme went on’.
Another eyewitness said that the Minister slumped as she stood up to deliver her address and launch the programme saying that, “she just held her head and went down flat. Her aides and other officials quickly intervened and rushed her to the hospital.
Security agents at the Trauma Center of ATBUTH, denied our correspondent entry into the hospital visited. They said that they were mandated not to allow anyone enter except with a tag which must be given by the patient inside the hospital.
However, a Bauchi resident, Yakubu, who was seen by our Correspondent coming out of the Trauma Center confirmed that the Minister was indeed in the hospital.
“Yes, the Minister in inside the Trauma Center, I even saw her Police Orderly sitting at the reception”.
“There’s a section of the hospital that is an exclusive area more like a VIP section, that is where she is. She was admitted at the Trauma Center and as I speak with you, she is on admission there.”
The Public Relations Officer of the ATBUTH, Aminu Bomboyo, decline comments on the matter when he was contacted.
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