A Senior Medical Doctor, Dr Usang Ekanem who was kidnapped on December 26, 2017 is yet to regain his freedom ten days after. This was disclosed in Calabar, Cross River State capital by the Chairman Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Cross River State, Dr Effiong B. Mkpanam.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST, the Chairman said, “It is with grief that we make public the fact that a very Senior Medical Practitioner and a one-time Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has been in the kidnappers den for Ten (10) days and counting, specifically from Tuesday 26th December, 2017.”
He accused the state government and other security agencies of not doing anything to unravel the cause of the kidnap or rescue their member. “The State Government and various security agencies in the State seem unable to offer any meaningful assistance towards securing his release.”
He said, “In the past two (2) years within Cross River State, our Association has had cause to draw the attention of the authorities to the incessant cases of kidnappings and other urban crimes which have threatened the socioeconomic fabric of our State.
“We have also noticed with utter dismay and drawn attention of the authorities to an upsurge in the cases of targeted kidnapping of Medical Practitioners. These attacks are frequently perpetrated on our colleagues, while they are discharging their legitimate duties of saving lives.
“It is noteworthy that in the last one (1) year within the State capital alone, five (5) Doctors and three (3) of their dependents/ family members have been kidnapped at various times and locations. This works out at nearly one medical doctor-targeted kidnap per month within the State capital alone!
“In as much as we as Doctors are sworn to an oath that requires us to save the lives of members of the public who are in need of our skill set, we have observed with dismay a dangerous trend in which the security and lives of the same Doctor is being threatened by some disgruntled members of society, while the State authorities and security agencies stand aloof and complacent at the very least.
He called on Governor Ben Ayade and other security agencies to ensure that the NMA member was released, “We hereby call on Prof. Ben Ayade, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, the Assistant Inspector-General Police (AIG) Zone 6, Abubakar Marafa, the Commissioner of Police Cross River State Command, Hafiz IM, the Director-General Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura and the State Director, Department of State Services to immediately intervene as a matter of urgency, to ensure the immediate and safe release of their Colleague.
”We also enjoin the security agencies in the State, to heighten their intelligence gathering and service delivery to prevent future reoccurrence of “Doctor-targeted” kidnapping in Cross River State.
Комментарии