The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if their abducted colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, is not released by August 26.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi said that the organization was fed up with the government’s lack of response to the kidnapping.
On December 27, 2023, Dr. Ganiyat, a registrar in the National Eye Centre’s Department of Ophthalmology in Kaduna, along with her husband and nephew, went missing.Dr. Ganiyat and her nephew are still being held captive, despite her husband’s release in March.
Abdullahi stated, “Following notification of the incident, the association notified all security agencies through official written communication, requesting immediate action towards the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.”
Additionally, the association notified the Kaduna State government, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, and the Chairman of the Senate and House Committees on Health.
“For a country where we have placed a high value on healthcare providers and the need for them to remain within the country, it is imperative that the security of these healthcare providers is guaranteed at all times,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi stated that despite the association’s multiple letters to the federal government, the Kaduna State government, and security agencies, no noteworthy action has been taken.
“We’ve been engaging, but we’ve not actually had any opportunity to have any personal engagement with the security agencies and the state or federal government regarding this sad situation.
“NARD has resolved to organise a national press conference and a protest march in all tertiary hospitals across the nation to demand Dr Ganiyat’s release.
“The association will embark on industrial action on August 26 if Dr Popoola is not freed by then,” he said.
The organization commended the efforts of security services and well-meaning Nigerians, but they asked the government to act decisively to save their colleague.
“It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed,” he added.
