On Monday, members of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja staged a peaceful protest to demand the release of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State.
Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was taken captive on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew.
While her husband gained his freedom in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, the national body, has informed various authorities about the situation, including the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and others.
Despite reaching out to security agencies, the Federal Government, and the Kaduna State Government, no significant actions have been taken.
During the protest at the hospital premises, the doctors urged for the swift release of Dr. Popoola.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as ‘Free Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, help bring Ganiyat home safely,’ ‘Rescue Dr. Ganiyat now,’ ‘Please, help bring Dr. Ganiyat home,’ ‘Injury to one is an injury to all,’ and ‘Doctors are crying, help us save her.’
Dr. Lanre-Aremo Babajide, the President of ARD at the hospital, stated that if Dr. Popoola is not rescued, they will commence an indefinite strike on August 26, 2024.
He urged the authorities to escalate efforts in the rescue mission, emphasizing that every moment she spends in captivity is unacceptable.
Dr. Babajide reiterated, “Our appeal is simple: We urge the government to take action and secure the release of Dr. Popoola. We call on the Federal Government, security chiefs, and the National Security Advisor to intervene.
“There are experts in hostage rescue operations, and we implore prompt action. If she remains in captivity by August 26, we will heed the directive from our national body, NARD, to embark on an indefinite strike.
“While we acknowledge the presence of government negotiators, we do not accuse the government of the abduction, but we are aware of their negotiation capabilities. It is time for them to step in.”