Doctors down tools to protest kidnap of Dr Okwudili Udemezue in Nnewi, Anambra State

On 8 June, medical doctors in both public and private hospitals downed tools and took to the streets to protest the kidnap of their colleague, Dr. Okwudili Udemezue, in Nnewi, the industrial nerve centre of Anambra State.

Dr. Udemezue, a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at the College of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was abducted as he was driving home from work on the night of 5 June, by unknown gunmen believed to be kidnappers. As at 8 June, his abductors had made no contact with either his family or his colleagues at the university.

The protesting doctors numbering over 300, supported by some medical students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, staged a peaceful protest in Awka, taking their case to the Government House, as well as the headquarters of the Police and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in Awka. Their protest paralyzed medical services in the entire area, with sick and wounded persons suffering great pains.

Speaking at both the Government House and the police headquarters, the Chairman of the Nnewi branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Achukwu Nwabueze, lamented that doctors had become targets of kidnappers. He said: “Our business is to save lives and we do not see any reason why we should be threatened”.

At the police headquarters, the Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr Austin Evbakhavbokun, commended the doctors for their mature conduct and assured them that the command had been on the matter and would rescue their colleague soon.

At the Government House, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu, expressed dismay at the gradual return of kidnapping, which he said had declined considerably in the state earlier in the year. He also assured the doctors that the government was doing all it could to roll back the resurgence of kidnapping in the state.

Gunmen kidnap Dr Paul Oriaifo and retired Perm Sec Momoh Dauda in Edo State

On 1 May, a physician, Dr Paul Oriaifo, was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Edo State. The abductors are demanding six million naira (about 40,000 USD) as ransom for his release.

Oriaifo’s abduction is the second case involving a medical doctor in the state, within one week. Only a few days earlier, Dr Momoh Daudu, a former Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Ministry of Health, had been kidnapped. Family sources said his abductors later called to demand that they be sent enough airtime credit to recharge their cell phones, in order to facilitate communications and negotiations between both parties. The kidnappers also demanded an undisclosed amount of money, as ransom for Dauda’s release.

A statement on the abductions, jointly signed by the state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Philip Ugbodaga, its Secretary, Emmanuel Ighodaro, and its Public Relations Officer, Kennedy Alohan, lamented the poor state of security in the state. The statement said that: “We have gotten to a breaking point. Medical personnel are now unable to differentiate between abductors and genuine patients making it difficult for doctors to undertake their humane duty to save lives. If this problem is not curbed fast, the effect on society will be devastating”.

The group stated further that neither the NMA nor the victims’ families are prepared to negotiate any payment of ransom for the release of the two doctors. It demanded their unconditional release and charged security agencies to do everything necessary towards achieving that goal. It also called for an overhaul of the security apparatus in the state, to make it pro-active and effective in preventing crime.