Doctors in Umuahia protest kidnap of colleague by gunmen

Members of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Umuahia zone have protested in Umuahia, the Abia State capital over the kidnap of one of their colleagues, Dr. Innocent Iwuegbu who was reportedly abducted on Monday on his way to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The protesting doctors bearing placards with inscriptions “Are our doctors still safe?, Release the kidnapped doctor, now!!!, Abia State now unsafe for medical doctors, Doctors are no longer safe in the society (Umuahia), We demand for immediate, safe release of the kidnapped doctor among others feared that medical doctors have become endangered species in the hands of gunmen and kidnappers.

They also feared that if nothing was urgently done to make the state conducive for them to carry out their duties of saving lives of patients the health institution would suffer greatly against the efforts of the governor whose desire was for Abians to have better and quality health services in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting doctors at the entrance of the Abia state Government House, Dr Ukpabi Ogba demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their colleague as well to ensure the safety of medical doctors who work to ensure the health of Abians.

Dr. Ogba said “we are here to intimate the government of Abia state that one of our members was kidnapped two days ago. He left his house and was heading to FMC for his usual duties and some hoodlums who have not been identified captured him.

“Information we heard after they opened communication with the wife was that our colleague was being tortured and that the kidnappers are asking a ransom that is way outside the reach of the family. So that is why we have come to complain to the government that we feel unsafe, that if nothing is quickly done about it, it may claim the life of our colleague and our own lives are not also safe.”

Responding, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the governor, Ukpai Agwu Ukpai who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, frowned at the criminal act and assured that government will swing into action immediately to ensure the safe return of the abducted doctor.

According to Ukpai, “I have seen some of your placards which is quite clear that a doctor was kidnapped. It is quite sad that someone who is on essential duty who leaves his family everyday to attend to attend to citizen of this country can be treated the way things our doctor has been treated.

“The primary duty of government everywhere in the world is safety of lives and property, therefore I want to ask that your complaint is received, the governor will hear, you go back to your place of work as a drastic action would be taken to ensure an unconditional release of this our doctor.

“What happened is very unfortunate and the government is not happy about that. That is why everything the government is doing is to make sure that the state is safe for everybody, both those who are working and those who are doing business in Abia state. I want to assure you that our brother will be released soonest.

“As soon as I leave here, I will reach out to the wife of the doctor who the kidnappers have opened communication with and see how to key into the discussion to ensure the immediate release of this our brother and colleague.”