Prof Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has officially requested the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the case of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola from Kaduna. Dr. Popoola was abducted last December and has been held by the kidnappers for nearly eight months.
Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, along with her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, who is a Squadron leader, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who resided with them.
While negotiations with the kidnappers led to the release of her husband on March 8, 2024, Dr. Popoola and Abdul-Mugniy remain captive.
There have been sporadic calls from the abductors, allowing limited contact between the captives and their family members. The most recent call was on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, to confirm the well-being of the doctor and her nephew.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has been actively advocating for Dr. Popoola’s release, staging peaceful protests in various states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as a means of urging for her safe return.
In a letter dated August 12, Minister Pate formally requested the assistance of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the IG, Kayode Egbetokun, in securing the release of the abducted medical doctor.
Titled ‘RE: Kidnap of Resident Doctor at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna: A need for urgent intervention to avert industrial disharmony,’ the letter highlights the urgency of the situation.
The minister emphasized, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has received correspondence from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors regarding the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Olawole Popoola and her nephew seven months ago. Urgent action is required to save their lives and prevent disruptions in the health sector.”