The spate of growing insecurity plaguing the country is not showing any signs of abating any sooner as Nigerians across the nation have become victims rampaging gunmen who have continued to ambush Nigerians across the country.
While 20 medical and dental students of the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos were reportedly kidnapped in Benue State on their way to a religious function in Enugu State, their senior colleagues who are medical practitioners staged different protests in Kwara over continued abduction of their colleagues who are still in captivity.
The students, Saturday Telegraph gathered were travelling together from Jos, Plateau State, for their national convention in Enugu when they were ambushed in Otukpo Local Government area of Benue State on Thursday and taken away to unknown destination.
In Zamfara State, another set of kdnapped stormed a care facility Matusgi Village in Talata Mafara Local Government and abducted a terminally-ill patient on IV drip in a fresh attack in the state.r
Our correspondent gathered that the students were kidnapped alongside a House Officer who is simply identified as Dr. Louis en route the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu.
The incident sparked concerns for the safety of the abducted students with medical experts appealing to security agencies for urgent intervention to rescue them and free the families from the trauma.
The state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Sewuese Anene confirmed the incident when contacted by our correspondent on Friday, saying a full scale investigation had already been launched into the abduction.
She said, “A report was received that medical students from Jos were on their way from Jos to Enugu and were kidnapped around Otukpo. Investigation is ongoing”.
According to the police, the identities of those abducted include, Boniface Tizhe, Thomas Yahaya, Gabriel Jita Iwev, Boniface Okon, Dondo Fabian, John Bitrus Naga, Fortune Chima Umeh, Godwin Gregory Tumba, Monica Ejembi, Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka.
Others include, Paul Nyampa Zira, Lawrence Victory Adaugo, Okopi Peter, Enger Benedicta, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, Paul Shantong, Victoria Cornelius, Pius Samson, Okan Adara, Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu.
This is just as the marauders took the life of the Commissioner’s Special Assistant when they reportedly killed him during the attack.
It is not clear if the incident happened in Anambra State but it was gathered that the trio were on their way to Abuja to attend the wedding reception of the first daughter to Gov. Charles Soludo, Adaora, when the incident happened.
Recall that Hon Aghamba had just recently flagged off the One Youth Two Skills programme of the state government and had also attended the traditional wedding ceremony of the Governor’s daughter at Isiofia last Saturday in Aguata Local Government Area.
Terminally-ill patient, others kidnapped in Zamfara
Eye witness Zamfara state, told Saturday Telegraph that terrorists who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, and launched a surprise attack on the community at about 2am on Friday, firing indiscriminately.
Among those taken was a patient receiving medical treatment, who was abducted while still connected to an IV drip. The incident has left the community in a state of shock and fear.
Apart from the sick man, eyewitnesses also said about 30 persons were kidnapped in the attack but the police disputed it, saying 10 persons were taken by the terrorists.
“They (terrorists) did not kill anyone during the attack. They only shot to scare us. They took about 30, including a woman and one sick man. We are yet to know their whereabouts. Everybody is scared,” an eye witness said.
Unilorin resident doctors protest over abducted member
Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, have staged a peaceful protest over the continued seven months abduction of their member in Kaduna.
It would be recalled that Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a medical practitioner at the National Eye Care Hospital, Kaduna, was abducted alongside her husband and visiting nephew when bandits raided the staff quarters of the hospital on December 27, 2023.
Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the sideline of the protest, the President of the ARD, UITH, Dr. Yusuf Muhammed, said the association is losing its patience as a result of the harrowing experience of its member in the hands of his captors.
He said: “It is becoming very worrisome, so we continue to engage with the managements at both the state and federal levels.
We also try to meet with several security agencies to see what they are doing, but because of the sensitivity of the matter, they could not divulge some information.
“What we intend to do is to bring this discussion to the limelight, so that well-meaning Nigerians can assist in pressing the government to secure her release.”
The President of the Association stated that their National body (NARD) has given the government two weeks to secure her release, adding that “August 16 marks the end of first week, and that it is expected at the end of the second week that the abducted colleague would be released”.
He warned that failure to secure her release on or before the second week, the National body would embark on industrial action.
Muhammed, therefore, advised the three of government to beef up security around institutions and the country as a whole.
“This is a sad reminder of insecurity bedeviling the country and we feel that this is another clarion call on government to rise to the occasion by beefing up security in work places to make it safe,” he added.
Osun doctors threaten industrial action over colleague’s abduction
Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Osun State Chapter on Friday staged a peaceful protest to demand the unconditional release of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted last year on December 27th, 2023, at her residence in Kaduna.
It was gathered that Dr. Popoola was kidnapped alongside her husband and nephew. Her husband was released after spending weeks in captivity, leaving the wife, who is a breastfeeding mother, still held captive.
The protesting doctors turned out in large numbers and carried placards with various inscriptions such as “All we are saying, bring back Ganiyat”, “we want unconditional release of Dr Ganiyat among others
Addressing journalists at the end of the peaceful protest, which took place on the premises of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, President ARD Osun State chapter, Dr. Ojo Damilola John said, if their request for prompt intervention and release of their colleague is not yielded, they may have no option but to down tool to press home their demand.
Dr. John said that the ARD has lost patience with the government’s inaction over the abduction, saying their colleague and her nephew who have in captivity have suffered physical, emotional and psychological trauma.
He called on the government and security agents to ensure Dr Ganiya and her nephew released alive.
“Our demands as the Association of Medical Doctor of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital are to join all other Nigerian Doctors to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Ganiyat and her nephew and reunite them with their immediate family
“We want to appeal to the security agents and all other stakeholders to ensure Dr Ganiyat and her nephew are released unconditionally because injury to one is an injury to all.”
Echoing a similar views, the Vice President 1 of the National Association of Resident Doctors, (NARD), Dr Ilori Solomon, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Olawale-Popoola and her nephew.
Solomon who emphasised the critical role that healthcare professionals like the doctor play in society, particularly during these challenging times said that the association will embark on industrial action on August 26 if Dr Popoola is not freed by then.
He called on all relevant authorities and security agencies to intensify efforts in securing the release of the doctor and her nephew.
He said: “Our demand is simple. In a book they said all animals are equal but we know some are more equal than others. I just imagine, if it were to be the daughter, or wife, or sister of any of the leader at the helms of affairs that has been incarcerated for the past seven months, would she still be there in captivity?”
“I think this is a country where we advocate equal rights. We need the federal government to stand up for the right of Dr Ganiyat Popoola who has been incarcerated for the past for seven months, let her be released immediately.
Failure to release Dr Ganiyat come August 26 all the Doctors in this country will have to down tool until Dr Ganiyat is released”, he said.
Recall that Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr Ganiyat and her nephew remain in captivity.
