Members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River State, have cried out over the kidnap of their member, Dr Ogbonna Uchenna-Aju.
DAILY POST gathered that Dr Uchenna-Aju was kidnapped on transit from Ogoja local government area to his house in Obudu local government area in the state on May 3rd, 2019.
The NMA, in a communiqué jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Agam Ayuk and the Secretary, Dr Ezoke Epoke, after an emergency general meeting held on Wednesday in Calabar, lamented the situation.
The association said that the kidnap of Uchenna-Aju had brought psychological trauma and emotional destabilisation to members of his family and the NMA in Cross River.
“The state government and security agencies are given 48 hours to facilitate the unconditional release of Dr Ogbonna Uchenna-Aju.
“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,” the communiqué read.
As at the time of filing this report, the victim was yet to be rescued. However, when our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo on Wednesday, she did not pick her phone, neither did she reply text message sent to her on the kidnap.
It would be recalled that on the 8th Jan. 2018, NMA resolved after its emergency meeting that it will henceforth withdraw all medical services without any notice anytime a doctor or dependent are taken captive.
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