INSECURITY: Medical Doctors Threaten To Withdraw Service Over Spate Of Kidnapping

Medical doctors are warming up to withdraw their services in Cross River State over incessant kidnappings of their colleagues.

The chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk and the secretary, Dr Ezoke Epoke, said in a signed communiqué at the end of a meeting that they could no longer put their lives at stake.

They called on the security agencies in the state to, within, 48 hours, facilitate unconditional release of Dr Ogbonna Uchenna-Aju abducted within Obudu Local Government Area of the state on May 3.

The communiqué read: “the kidnap of the Uchenna-Aju has brought psychological trauma and emotional destabilization to members of his family and the NMA in Cross River.

“Failure to secure his release at the expiration of this ultimatum, NMA in Cross River will proceed on a total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services in both the private, public and institutional hospitals in the state.

“The hospitals include University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, General Hospitals, Medical Centres, Mission Hospital and Private Clinic/Hospitals from 12 midnight of May 9th.

“NMA is not unmindful of the impact of strike action on the good people of the state.

However, we cannot continue to save lives while ours is under constant threat by armed bandits and kidnappers.”