The governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi yesterday ordered for total close down of all borders connecting Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Cross River and Benue states.
The closure followed the kidnap of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA), Ebonyi state, Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah and two others.
Umahi made this known while addressing Medical Doctors who were protesting the kidnap at the entrance gate of government House Abakaliki.
He said he was doing everything possible to ensure the immediate release of their kidnapped colleagues.
“I am directing the SSA on security to have the entire town locked down. I’m the chief security officer. Today, all roads most be blocked by 6 o’clock. If the neighborhood watch are not ready to do their work, then they should go away.
“I’m giving this order as the chief security officer. It is only the President that his order is greater than my own. So, that is what I have directed. Again, please accept my apologies for what happened.
“Be assured that I am doing everything possible to make sure that they are released. I know how you people suffer sleepless nights and so on and so forth. So, you shouldn’t be working in fear”, he said.
Recall that the CMD was kidnapped alongside the hospital’s Accountant, S.N Ugama and the head of Administration of the hospital, Chief Christopher Ogbu along Lokoja/Ajeokuta in Kogi state on their way to Abuja for a meeting on Wednesday by unknown gunmen.
The doctors were carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Kidnappers must leave Doctors alone’, ‘Kidnappers, release our management staff’ among others.
Ealier in a remark, the state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Austin Ikwudimma, who spoke on behalf of the doctors, expressed their displeasure over the development.
He noted that their members had been victims of kidnap, robbery and all manner of ill-treatments in the hands of hoodlums.
“We are here to register our displeasure, to let the state government convey this message to the federal government. Ebonyi state is doing its best and it is one of the safest states in the federation but it needs to do more’.
“Federal government needs to do more on the issue of security especially as regards to Doctors whose lives have been endangered. Apart from this kidnap, our members have been robbed. Our members have lost their vehicles, we have been intimidated and harassed. These things are coming serial as if we are targets.
“This is why we are here to tell the federal government to improve on the security situation in the country and ensure that our members are returned to us unhurt”, he said. He recalled that the wife and a child of the Provost of the College of Nursing and Midwifery of the Hospital were on Tuesday kidnapped on their way to dispose refuse at their residence in democracy estate within the state capital.
But the Provost’s wife and his child have since been released by their abductors. Though, it was not clear if any ransom was paid to secure their release.
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