NMA threatens national action over abducted Cross River doctor
Uche Ojinmah, national president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has disclosed that they would embark on a national action if their abducted member in Cross River was not returned in seven days.
Mr Ojinmah made the call in a briefing with journalists on Saturday in Calabar while disclosing some of the measures the association would take to demand the release of their abducted colleague.
It would be recalled that Ekanem Ephraim, a neurologist with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH), was on July 13 abducted from her residence by armed men who pretended to be patients.
According to her family, the NMA in Cross River, in the last 25 days, has not received any response or proof that the doctor is alive.
Mr Ojinmah said the NMA decided to make it clear that they would not accept anything except the return of the kidnapped doctor.
“We have had interactions with the governor and we have made it clear that if by the end of next week we do not get result, we will take tougher stance because we have watched the maltreatment of medical practitioners in Cross River in the last few years.
“Doctors as a group are being targeted, that has to stop in Cross River, if it does not, there will be a national action that will have Cross River at the epicenter.
“We may withdraw our members so that those people who like kidnapping will have to treat the people of Cross River themselves,” he maintained.
Speaking further, Mr Ojinmah called on the government of Cross River to take proactive measures to protect their important citizens, not only doctors.
While appealing to the kidnappers to return the abducted neurologist to her family and association, he called on the state government to make it a priority to contain any attempt to de-market Cross River.
He added that they were not unmindful of the efforts of the governor and security agencies but Cross River was becoming a recurring decimal in the issue of kidnapping, especially doctors.
In the last five years in Cross River, over 10 doctors have been kidnapped.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Economy
TransDigm abandons acquisition of Stellant Systems after DOJ’s decision to block transaction
TransDigm Group has abandoned its attempt to acquire rival defence and industrial component manufacturer Stellant Systems.
Abuja
Trump pressures Tinubu on terror prosecutions, protection for Christians
The U.S. pressed the Nigerian government to do more to protect Christians from attacks, and that greater efforts and resources must be allocated to the safe return of IDPs.
Abuja
COREN Assembly: Tinubu seeks strong regulation, sanctions
Mr Tinubu said this at the opening of the 34th Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria in Abuja.
Heading 1
U.S. indicts bulletproof hosting firms Medialand, ML.Cloud, three Russians for cybercrime, wire fraud, money laundering
According to the indictment, 42 victims in 21 states were targeted by criminal groups who used Medialand’s and ML.Cloud’s services.
World
FULL LIST: 23 countries U.S. warns citizens not to visit
President Donald Trump’s administration listed 23 nations deemed too dangerous for U.S. citizens to visit.
Anti-Corruption
ICPC, EFCC ask scholars, students to lead Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade
The ICPC chair has urged social science scholars and students to anchor anti-corruption crusades at all levels.
