By Aderogba George
Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, has demanded the unconditional release of one of their members, Doctor Ganiyat Popoola who was said to have been kidnapped on Dec. 27, 2023.
The association during a solidarity walk within the premises of the hospital, and later to the Chief Medical Director’s (CMD) office lead by its President, Dr Abah Innocent, said the victim was kidnapped at her resident in Kaduna.
He said the victim is a staff of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, and was said to have been kidnapped alongside her husband and her nephew.
The ARD President, UATH, said members of the association are not happy with the incident, while calling on the management of the hospital and the Federal Government to intervene for a quick release of their colleague.
Innocent said that kidnappers and abductoes have now seen businesses among health workers who work all throughout the days and night to give the best healthcare to their patients.
“We have suddenly become object of trade for abductors, we thought that the issue of kidnapping is a pandemic, nobody is spared whether you are a doctor, or a housewife, or you are a governor.
“Our colleague, Doctor Ganiyat Popoola was abducted on December 27, 2023, today make it exactly seven (7) month, 20 days in detention.
“She was kidnapped with the husband and her nephew, however, the husband was released in March and our colleague is still there with the abductors, we have evidence that she is still alive.
“It is of this note that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) believing in the mandate that one for all, all for one, as mandated that we rise up and create awareness.
“We believe that if this government rises up to the task, if all the relevant security agencies rises up to the task, our colleague will be free.
“On this note, this day the 16 day of August 2024, we thought it wise to do this solidarity walk, to create awareness and to plead with our management to stand for us as we clamour for the release of our colleague’,, Innocent said.
According to him, if Ganiyat Popoola is still alive and the association does nothing, conscience and posterity will not be fair to the members
He therefore appealed to the CMD to join voice with the association, as well as calling on the Federal Government to wade in into the situation for the release of their member before any arm is done on her.
The CMD, Prof Bisallah Ekele, in his respond to the aggrieved association called for calm, and assured them of management commitment to intervene on the matter.
Represented by Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr Bob Ukonu, the CMD said that it was good thing that the association members did not keep quiet over the kidnapped of their members.
“Just about 20 minutes ago I had a news flash and it is bearing 20 Medical Students kidnapped who were on their way for a programme, my heart bleed and this established the fact that we are really really living in a precarious time.
“This is a time you cannot predict what will happen in the next minute, it is unfortunate that the case of Ganiyat Popoola for the past seven months she has been under the captivity of these strangers in our environment.
“We also feel your pain, we will make our own little contributions interns of making contact, what you have done here today, I want to believe it is also replicated in almost all the hospital where we have ARD.
“This awareness should not just end here, by the time we also keep the fire burning through the media work and others, I want to believe that govt of our nation will wake up to its responsibility.
“I believe that with this level of awareness the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare who is our parent body supretending over the activities of this hospital will definitely get to hear about this.
“I am sure and convince that Prof Ali Pate being who he is will not keep this to himself, he will relay this to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as part of his memo and Mr President is also a very lively person who does things right,” Ekele said.
He salute the commitment and emphaty of the ARD, while calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to assist in the matter of getting the victim release. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)