Resident doctors threaten strike over kidnapped colleague

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) said it will embark on an indefinite strike from August 12 over non- release of one of its members, Dr. Ganiyat Olabisi Popoola-Olawale, by kidnappers.

Though a two-week ultimatum has been issued by the medics to the relevant authorities, there would be a nationwide peaceful protest on August 6 by members of the body.

Popoola-Olawale, according to NARD President, Dr. Abubakar Dele, yesterday, in Ilorin, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023 at about 1:00am within the premises of the Senior Staff Quarters of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

She was picked along with her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and spouse’s nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, a student of Air Force Technology Institute (AFIT), who was staying with the couple at the time.

After several efforts and negotiations, the husband was released on March 7, 2024.

According to Dele, since the incident, the abductors have called at will and occasionally allowed some family members to speak to them, stating: “They were spoken to last on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 to prove that they were both alive.”

The NARD leader added: “After several efforts and negotiations, on March 6, 2024, the kidnappers agreed to collect N60million and other items worth over N10 million (including motorbikes, two bags of rice, 20 walkie-talkie, MTN and Airtel recharge cards and engine oil) as ransom for all of them to be released.

“The said amount/items were delivered on March 7 and only the husband was released on March 8. At the point of release, he was told to go and get the sum of N40million so that others will be released.

“Within five weeks of his release, the sum of N40 million and some items worth almost N10 million were again delivered to the kidnappers by the family, but neither Dr. Popoola-Olawale nor her nephew was freed.

“About a month ago, the husband was contacted again by the kidnappers for another N40 million to be paid as ransom for their release. The money is yet to be realised as we speak.”