BY UKET OKA, Calabar
Resident Doctors at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River, Friday, joined their colleagues nationwide in a solidarity protest calling for the unconditional and immediate release of their kidnapped colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, kidnapped 8 months ago.
Our reporter gathered Dr Popoola was kidnapped at the National Eye Center Kaduna, alongside her husband and niece.
It was further learnt that, her husband has since been released leaving the lady and her niece still in captivity 8 months after.
The doctors, who carried placards bearing various inscriptions, such as “bring back Ganiyat,” “A Doctor’s life matters” and so many others all asking for the safe rescue and release of the kidnaped doctor.
The protest was totally peaceful, but the medical workers expressed their displeasure over the continuous captivity of their colleague.
Speaking journalists after the protest, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, UCTH branch, Dr Egor Edim, noted that: “for eight months, we have had our colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted from National Eye Center Kaduna in captivity of her abductors, she was captured alongside her husband and nephew.”
Dr. Edim added that, “the husband was released in March, leaving her in captivity.”
“We are canvassing support to call on the government and other authorities to end kidnappings in Nigeria. For the past eight months, they have been communicating with the family up to about one week ago, but we heard some ransom has been paid, but they are still holding her captive despite all efforts,” the president stated.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the Association of Resident Doctors UCTH branch, Dr. Ekama Egbe said, “I feel so bad since I heard the news, I have been emotionally down. I am a mother and a wife and I know how much mothers can miss their families, imagine the kidnapped Doctor unable to have access to her family for so long as eight months. We even heard her health is failing, so it is disheartening.”
Other doctors, who also spoke with our reporter appealed to the government to swing into action and rescue their colleague.
The protest was said to be held at all teaching hospitals across the country, in solidarity.
