Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River State on Saturday refused to return to work after their colleague , Dr . Emem Udoh , was released by kidnappers .
Udoh , a Senior Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics , University of Calabar Teaching Hospital , was kidnapped in her house in Calabar on Monday after she returned from work .
Following the incident , doctors on Wednesday commenced a sit -at - home strike on the basis that about six of their colleagues had been kidnapped in the last few months.
They , however , promised to call off the action as soon as Udoh was released .
But rising from an emergency meeting after Udoh ’ s release on Friday, one of the doctors , who spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday , said the sit - at -home action would continue because neither the state government nor the security agencies did anything to facilitate the release of their colleague .
The state police command through its spokesperson , Irene Ugbo , claimed on Friday that Udoh was released after the Anti - Kidnapping Squad and the Special Anti - Robbery Squad mounted pressure on the kidnappers .
Ugbo also said no ransom was paid to secure Udoh ’ s release from the kidnapper’ s den , but the NMA member said ransom was paid through the communication channel with the abductors without any input from the police .
The doctor said , “ She was released the normal way a kidnap victim , who paid ransom , will be released . I do not know the exact amount paid but I know ransom was paid .
“ In Cross River State , they are playing the ostrich . At this age and time , a top government official is still under the illusion that the state is the safest place in the country . We should stop playing with people ’ s life . The first duty of any government is the security and welfare of life of its citizens . Once that fails , the issue of industrialisation and tourism is zero . ”
The NMA member said there would be meeting on Monday to decide the next line of action .
Source:punchng
Udoh , a Senior Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics , University of Calabar Teaching Hospital , was kidnapped in her house in Calabar on Monday after she returned from work .
Following the incident , doctors on Wednesday commenced a sit -at - home strike on the basis that about six of their colleagues had been kidnapped in the last few months.
They , however , promised to call off the action as soon as Udoh was released .
But rising from an emergency meeting after Udoh ’ s release on Friday, one of the doctors , who spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday , said the sit - at -home action would continue because neither the state government nor the security agencies did anything to facilitate the release of their colleague .
The state police command through its spokesperson , Irene Ugbo , claimed on Friday that Udoh was released after the Anti - Kidnapping Squad and the Special Anti - Robbery Squad mounted pressure on the kidnappers .
Ugbo also said no ransom was paid to secure Udoh ’ s release from the kidnapper’ s den , but the NMA member said ransom was paid through the communication channel with the abductors without any input from the police .
The doctor said , “ She was released the normal way a kidnap victim , who paid ransom , will be released . I do not know the exact amount paid but I know ransom was paid .
“ In Cross River State , they are playing the ostrich . At this age and time , a top government official is still under the illusion that the state is the safest place in the country . We should stop playing with people ’ s life . The first duty of any government is the security and welfare of life of its citizens . Once that fails , the issue of industrialisation and tourism is zero . ”
The NMA member said there would be meeting on Monday to decide the next line of action .
Source:punchng
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