The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) chapter is demanding the immediate release of a kidnapped colleague, Ganiyat Popoola.
Mrs Popoola, a medical doctor at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted alongside her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023.
The president of ARD in UATH, Abah Innocent, urged the management of the hospital and the Federal Government to intervene for a quick release of the association’s member who has been in captivity for about eight months.
Mr Innocent said that kidnappers and abductors had now seen businesses among health workers who work throughout the day and night to give the best healthcare to their patients.
He said, “We have suddenly become objects of trade for abductors. The issue of kidnapping is a pandemic, nobody is spared whether you are a doctor, a housewife or you are a governor.
“Our colleague, Doctor Ganiyat Popoola, was abducted exactly seven months, 20 days ago.
“She was kidnapped with the husband and her nephew, however, the husband was released in March and our colleague is still there with the abductorss, we have evidence that she is still alive, ” he said.
He urged the government to task all the relevant security agencies to rise up to the task and ensure the release of the kidnapped resident doctor.
Also confirming that the victim is still alive, Mr Innocent appealed to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) to prevail on the Federal Government to wade into the matter before any arm was done on her.
