The Zamfara branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says it is working to secure the release of the medical director of Dansadau General Hospital kidnapped by bandits on June 25.

“The abductors of Dr Mansur Muhammad the medical director of the General Hospital Dansadau have demanded N20 million ransom for his release,” Mannir Bature, Zamfara NMA chairman, said on Wednesday. “They made contact with his family to demand the sum of N20 million ransom before they can release him.”

He added, “They, however, reduced the amount to N5 million. We are still on it. The leadership of the NMA is working with relevant authorities to ensure the safe release of the victim.”

Mr Muhammad was abducted at Mashaya village along Dansadau-Magami road while returning from Gusau.

According to Mr Bature, the bandits had been targeting the medical director for a while until last Saturday when they succeeded in kidnapping him. He recalled that the bandits sometime in 2021 attacked the general hospital and kidnapped two health workers, when they did not find Mr Muhammad.

“The security forces and other relevant stakeholders must form a formidable synergy to win the fight against the bandits and eliminate the menace of banditry in Zamfara and other parts of the region,” the NMA chair added. “The three tiers of government must come up with strategies to nip the security challenges in the bud.”

(NAN)