National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike, if its member who was kidnapped in December 2023 is not released by her captors.
Gatekeepers News reports that NARD issued the threat through a statement on Wednesday.
According to reports; the victim, Dr Popoola Ganiyat was kidnapped alongside her husband who is a military officer, and her nephew.
NARD said, “On the 27th of December 2023, the Association received with dismay report of the sad occurrence of the abduction of one of its members, Dr Popoola Ganiyat, a registrar in the department of ophthalmology National Eye Centre Kaduna along with her husband a military officer and nephew.”
“This ugly incidence occurred at about 01:00 am on Wednesday, 27th December 2023 at the staff quarters of the National Eye Centre Kaduna with the assailants abducting and ferrying all three victims with little hindrance.”
“Post notification of the incidence, the Association notified all security agents through officially written communication requesting immediate action toward the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.”
“Also, the Association notified in writing, our parent body the Nigerian Medical Association, our Parent Ministry the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Chairman House Committee on Health, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Kaduna state Government. The Association also established communication links with local chapters and Kaduna state NMA.”
“The family have been in negotiation with the abductors and after several efforts, on the 6th of March 2024 the abductors agreed to let one of the victims go for which the husband was picked due to his failing health resulting in his release on the 8th of March 2024 and subsequent fresh demands for the release of the other two victims.”
The association further lamented that after his release, various approaches to secure release of the wife who remained in captivity yielded no result.
It added, “The Association deliberated on this situation at the January National Executive Council Meeting, May Ordinary General Meeting and July National Executive Council Meeting with official letters of request for intervention written to all major stakeholders as earlier stated, with no major result yielded.”
“Dr Popoola Ganiyat a mother of 5 children, last child, one year three months as at the time of abduction is a Nigerian trained doctor who has been in the service of the National Eye Centre since 2017, and has dedicatedly served the citizen of Kaduna and its environ.”
The victim was also said to be kept in inhumane conditions, a development that has affected her physical and mental health.
NARD said, “Last interaction that the Association got from her shows she has been kept in inhumane conditions that have resulted in deterioration of her physical and mental health.”
According to the association; due to lack of assurance from security agencies, federal government, and Kaduna state government to secure her release and given her current health status, it held an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) Meeting on 11th of August 2024 and resolved to take pragmatic actions.
Some of the actions mentioned are; “The Association will be organizing a national press conference to bring awareness to the travails of one of its members and calling on Federal Government, State Government, security agencies and all major stakeholders to ensure the prompt unconditional release of Dr Popoola Ganiyat.”
NARD noted that “free Dr. Popoola protest march” will subsequently be held in all tertiary hospitals across the nation.
The association added that the Association will be embarking on an industrial action on 26th of August if Dr Popoola is not freed.
It further called on Federal Government, Kaduna state government, and security agencies to ensure that Dr Popoola regained her freedom to avoid a crisis in the country’s health sector.
