Doctors are protesting after a female colleague has been held by kidnappers for eight months, demanding her release.
On Saturday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) orchestrated a protest across the country in order to emphasize their request for Dr. Ganiyat Popoola’s release. She was kidnapped on December 27th, 2023 while serving as a resident physician within Kaduna State.
If the woman was not released by her captors, they have threatened to go on strike.
On December 27th, 2023, Dr. Popoola – who was a nursing mother- along with her husband and nephew were kidnapped from their official residence situated within the National Eye Centre in Kaduna state.
Asaba’s Federal Medical Centre (FMC) doctors in Delta State took to the hospital grounds, singing chants of unity as they protested for their kidnapped colleague’s immediate release from captivity.
Dr. Asore, the immediate past President of FMC Asaba Chapter and National Assistant Secretary of NARD, stated that despite their efforts to secure the release of their colleague through all necessary means, it has not been successful so far.
Read Also: FG Targets Nigerian Doctors for Foreign Postgraduate Training
Despite security agencies making promises repeatedly, we have exhausted every effort to secure the release of Dr Ganiyat Popoola.
He stated that the nationwide protest was originally planned, but due to the country’s current fragility following the End Bad Governance protest, they opted to postpone it. Instead, they instructed members in each state to limit demonstrations within hospital premises.
Dr Kenneth Okolie, the President of the FMC Asaba Chapter of Association of Resident Doctors, criticized the government’s treatment towards medical staff in Nigeria at a press conference during a protest. He emphasized that political leaders have overlooked prioritizing healthcare workers’ safety concerns despite their crucial role in society.
According to him, the conduct had resulted in a condition known as Japa syndrome within the healthcare field.
The President demanded that the federal government and Kaduna State take action to secure Popoola’s release promptly, or else suspend their operations until they comply with this request.
Dr. Silva Juliet, the Chapter’s Public Relations Officer, also voiced her support for the Resident Doctors’ cause and urged both media personnel and concerned Nigerians to help secure their colleague’s safe release so that she may return unharmed amongst loved ones and co-workers alike.
Dr. Omo Ekeneam (CMAC), speaking on behalf of Dr. Victor Osiatuma, the MD of the hospital, addressed Resident Doctors in support of protesters at the administrative complex and pledged management’s cooperation to further their demands for Dr. Ganiyat Popoola’s release.
Sources report that negotiations and a payment of over N60 million, along with foodstuff as ransom, secured the release of the husband on March 7th, 2024. However, his wife and nephew remain in captivity under control by bandits. The husband had been released despite suffering from fragile health conditions prior to his abduction.
Some people speculated that the abductors may have seen value in the woman’s medical expertise, given her profession as a doctor. They believed she could potentially provide necessary medical assistance to both the bandits and their hostages
