Doctor’s Abduction: Colleagues Planning Indefinite Strike

A peaceful protest was organized by members of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja on Monday. They demanded the rescue of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped in December last year.

Similar protests were held in Ogun State by resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.

Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released on March 8, 2024, she and her nephew remain captive.

Since the abduction, the captors have sporadically allowed family members to speak with Dr. Popoola and her nephew. The last call was on July 24, 2024, confirming they were still alive.

The Association of Resident Doctors gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to secure Dr. Popoola’s release by July 30; otherwise, they threatened strike action.

Residents doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja took to the streets on Monday with placards, urging for Dr. Popoola’s safe return.

Dr. Lanre-Aremo Babajide, the ARD President at the hospital, warned of an impending indefinite strike starting August 26 if Dr. Popoola is not rescued soon.

Babajide appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts for Dr. Popoola’s release, stating that every moment in captivity is one too many.

During their protest, resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu also demanded the immediate release of Dr. Popoola and 20 medical students abducted in Benue State.

They emphasized the urgent need for the government to rescue Dr. Popoola and the abducted students, stressing the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Dr. Olusola Monehin, the President of ARD at the hospital, urged the government to prioritize the safe return of Dr. Popoola, a dedicated mother of five serving in the healthcare sector.

Monehin called for swift action from the security agencies to rescue Dr. Popoola and the abducted medical students, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.