Nurses have accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of failing to secure frontline health workers’ lives as they become targets of kidnappers in the state, leading the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Ogun council, to go on strike.

The strike took effect from Tuesday midnight, it said in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of NANNM, Roseline Solarin, and the NMA Chairman, Oladayo Ogunlaja.

It described the alleged recent kidnappings of health workers as “disheartening, repugnant and unacceptable.”

It added that the government’s approach of not negotiating with kidnappers had made them believe that their lives and property were of no essence to the government.

It alleged that Mr Abiodun had not shown any commitment that could facilitate the early release of their members, hence, the decision to down tools.

“The recent kidnapping of health workers after rendering their services to the good citizens of Ogun is so disheartening, repugnant, and unacceptable.

“Recall that Dr Oladunni Adetola and Mrs Bamgbose, a nurse, were precisely abducted on the 7th of April, making it six days in incarceration.

“Also, another dental therapist working at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, was abducted today on her way to work.

“In the light of these, there is the immediate withdrawal of services of our members from all institutions in Ogun until the safety of our members is guaranteed,” the nurses said. 

(NAN)