A peaceful protest was carried out by members of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja on Monday. They reiterated their demand for the rescue of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted in December of the previous year.
Similarly, resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Ogun State staged a protest.
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 Popool, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy.
While the husband was released on March 8, 2024, after negotiations, the doctor and Abdul-Mugniy remained in captivity.
The abductors have been in contact sporadically since the incident, allowing some family members to communicate with the captives. The last contact was on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, to confirm their wellbeing.
The Association of Resident Doctors gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum as of July 30 to secure the doctor’s release, warning of a possible strike if their demand is not met.
In a show of solidarity, resident doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja displayed placards with messages such as ‘Free Dr. Ganiyat Popoola,’ ‘Rescue Dr. Ganiyat now,’ and ‘Doctors are crying, help us save her’.
The President of ARD at the hospital, Dr. Lanre-Aremo Babajide, stated that they would initiate an indefinite strike starting August 26, 2024, if Dr. Popoola remains captive.
Babajide urged authorities to intensify rescue efforts, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The demands are clear: the government must intervene to secure Dr. Popoola’s release. The doctors are urging prompt action from the government, security chiefs, and the National Security Adviser.
Similarly, resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu joined the protest, calling for the safe return of Dr. Popoola, as well as 20 abducted medical students from the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri.
During the protest, banners and placards were displayed with messages such as “FG must help bring back Dr. Ganiyat Popoola”, “We demand the release of Dr. Popoola now”, and “The security agencies should help free Dr. Popoola”.
Addressing the situation, Dr. Olusola Monehin, President of the ARD at the teaching hospital, emphasized the need for immediate government action to secure Dr. Popoola’s release and ensure the safety of all affected individuals.
The urgency of the situation is clear, with Dr. Popoola’s prolonged captivity being a concern for her colleagues and the medical community at large.