Resident doctors threaten nationwide strike over abducted colleague

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued an ultimatum to the government and threatened a nationwide strike for the release of their abducted colleague, Ganiyat Popoola.

Ganiyat, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Ganiyat and her nephew remain in captivity.

NARD’s President, Dele Abdullahi, made this declaration at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that the association has lost patience with the government’s inaction over the abduction.

Abdullahi stated, “Following notification of the incident, the association notified all security agencies through official written communication, requesting immediate action towards the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.

“For a country where we have placed a high value on healthcare providers and the need for them to remain within the country, it is imperative that the security of these healthcare providers is guaranteed at all times.”

He stated that the association has written several letters to security agencies, the federal government, and the Kaduna State Government but has received no response.

“We’ve been engaging, but we’ve not actually had any opportunity to have any personal engagement with the security agencies and the state or federal government regarding this sad situation.

“NARD has resolved to organise a national press conference and a protest march in all tertiary hospitals across the nation to demand Ganiyat’s release.

“The association will embark on industrial action on August 26 if Dr. Popoola is not freed by then,” he said.

Abdullahi, however, urged the government to take concrete steps to rescue their colleague, saying, “It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed.”