The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a nationwide warning strike in protest against the prolonged captivity of one of its members, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola. Dr. Popoola, a Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, announced that the strike, which will last for seven days, is a demonstration of the doctors’ frustration with the government’s and security agencies’ inability to secure Dr. Popoola’s release after nearly eight months in captivity. Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that the strike would be total, with no emergency care provided during this period. “Before now, we had protested in all tertiary hospitals across the nation to demand Dr. Popoola’s release, but to no avail. Hence, we have decided to temporarily withdraw our services nationwide,” he stated.
The withdrawal of services has left public healthcare facilities severely understaffed, with only a few consultants available to care for patients. Resident doctors, who make up the majority of the medical workforce in these hospitals, have halted all services, causing significant disruption to patient care. Some doctors, out of goodwill, have offered to continue consultations via telemedicine for certain patients, while others have opted to stay away from hospital facilities until the strike ends.
The strike has heightened the frustrations of many Nigerians who rely on public healthcare services, exacerbating the challenges they already face in accessing medical care.
In a related development, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has praised President Bola Tinubu for the successful rescue of 20 medical students and eight National Youth Service Corps members who were abducted by bandits in Benue State. Clark expressed his relief and joy over the operation, which brought significant relief to the victims’ families and the nation.
Reflecting on the broader issue of insecurity, Clark highlighted the devastating impact of kidnapping and banditry on Nigeria’s economy, particularly in agriculture, where many farmers are now too fearful to access their lands. He also pointed out the increasing dangers of traveling through certain regions of the country, such as the Abuja-Kaduna route, where the fear of abduction has become a constant threat.
Clark recalled the tragic case in Kaduna where a medical doctor was killed by kidnappers just days before she was set to travel abroad for further studies. He lamented the seeming helplessness of security forces in dealing with such incidents, despite knowing the locations of the bandits and even having their contact information.
The elder statesman called on state governors to take a more active role in ensuring the safety of their citizens, arguing that the excuse of not controlling security forces in their states is unacceptable. He urged governors to use their influence over security agencies to protect their communities, just as they do in political matters.
Clark concluded by calling for the deployment of effective rescue strategies across all regions of Nigeria to address the growing insecurity and ensure the safety of all citizens.
