Worried by the spate of kidnapping of medical personnel and others in the state in recent times, members of the Delta State chapter of Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and their Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) counterparts yesterday took to the streets in Asaba, the state capital.
The peaceful protest by the MDCAN and ARD members was prompted by the the kidnap of a neurologist and one of their colleagues, Dr. Obiabo Yahaya, since December 29, 2015.
The whereabouts of the victim has remained unknown since his abduction.
Adorned in white attire to signify the peaceful and life-saving nature of their profession, the doctors marched through major streets of city to the Delta State Government House, Asaba.
They condemned in strong terms the kidnap of their colleague, saying and they had “become endangered species in the hands of kidnappers” considering the mindless manner Yahaya, a neurologist, was abducted by unidentified gunmen on the fateful day.
They urged all well-meaning Nigerians and particularly the government and security agencies to work harder to secure the release of Yahaya as well as protect doctors and other medical personnel from the activities of criminals.
In a protest letter read by MDCAN Vice-Chairman, Dr. Ejiroghene Umuerri, the protesters urged the Delta State Government and security agents to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of their kidnapped colleague within the next 24 hours. They lamented that kidnapping appeared to have become a “lucrative business” for a handful of undesirable elements who seem to be having a field day unchallenged.
According to the statement, “It is with a heavy heart we make this submission that kidnapping in Delta State, and indeed Nigeria, has become a very lucrative business with huge financial returns and little risk as the kidnappers are hardly apprehended while the victim’s family is left with no option but to pay ransom in order to secure the safe release of their loved ones.
“The kidnappers collect their ransom and move to the next victim certain that they would not be caught and that ransom demanded must be paid. This ugly circle has continued and victims have been defrauded.
““It is pitiable that Doctors who are supposed to be protected by their immediate host communities because of their humanitarian services, are now the victims of kidnap”, the doctors noted.
However, addressing the protesters on behalf of the State Governor, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Festus Agas, commended the protesters for adopting a more civilized approach to register their grievances, assuring them that the state government would work with security agents in the state to ensure the safe release of their colleague.
He stressed that the state government was equally concerned about the activities of kidnappers and other criminals hence it had intensified efforts at addressing the security challenges in the state through increased support to the security agencies and other bodies.
“Government is also worried about the situation and is doing all it can to address it”, Agas said. “Not all security issues and efforts can be made public so I won’t be able to disclose some things to you. However, the issue of security is not for government alone but the duty of all well meaning citizens of the state and nation.”
Meanwhile, the kidnap of a traditional ruler, the Obi of the quiet agrarian community of Ubulu-Uku in Delta State, Obi Akazez Ofulue (III), was late yesterday reported.
The abduction of the first-class royal father, yesterday evening, allegedly took place when unidentified gunmen ambushed and whisked him away while traveling on the Abior Road in Aiocha North Local Government Area of the state.
Although details of the alleged kidnap of the traditional ruler could not be obtained at the time of filing this report last night, it would be recalled that two Catholic priests were also abducted on the same road last December.
The priests were, however, later released after about five days in the hands of their abductors, who eventually demanded a N40 million ransom, and amount the church authorities said they would not pay.
By: Omon-Julius Onabu
This Day News
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