After a 10-month captivity, Kaduna-based medical doctor, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, has finally regained her freedom.
Dr. Popoola, a registrar with the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted alongside her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, on December 27, 2023.
In the early stages of the ordeal, her husband was freed on March 8, 2024, following negotiations with the captors, though Dr. Popoola and her nephew remained in captivity.
The protracted abduction of the doctor sparked widespread concern, with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) organizing protests and urging the government to take swift action for her release.
Confirming the release, NARD President Tope Zenith Osundara disclosed in a phone interview that the doctor and her nephew were finally freed on Wednesday evening.
He said, “Yes, it is true. It happened today (Wednesday). For now, we have insulated her away from people, allowing only limited access.”
When questioned about a ransom, Osundara clarified, “No ransom was paid at all.”
