Medical Doctors who are members of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA and Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in Cross Rivers State on Tuesday, barricaded the Governor’s Office, Calabar, demanding for the safe and unconditional release of their colleague that was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
The victim, Dr Vivien Otu, a Pediatrician, at the University of Calabar teaching hospital, was abducted on Friday night, around Marian area of Calabar.
The doctors carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Kidnapping is an act of terrorism’, ‘Make Cross River safe again’, ‘Cross River is not a den for kidnappers’, and ‘Let’s stamp out kidnapping’ among others.
First, the doctors took to the streets of Calabar, before they marched straight to the Government house, blocking the Government office gate.
After the protest at the Government house, they went to visit the State House of Assembly, where the Speaker, Rt Hon Eteng Williams, assured them of improved security in the state, he also promised them that their colleague would be rescued.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Innocent Abang, speaking at the Governor’s office, said, “We have come to present our grievances to the governor because of the incessant kidnap of our colleagues and how we have become an endangered specie in Cross River State. We pay tax in this state and we are protecting lives and saving lives. So, we want to tell the government to please protect our land and give us the privilege to save lives.”
“The State Security Adviser, who is standing in for the Governor who is not around, should brief us how far they have gone, to assure us that our colleague is safe and will be released to us today. We don’t want it beyond today. We want Cross River State to be safe from kidnapping. Other states are doing well now. We can also do well.”
Addressing the agitated Doctors, the State Security Adviser South, Ani Esin, speaking on behalf of the Governor, Ben Ayande, said, “We have been working round the clock since this happened and right now I can say that we are on top of this situation. The governor is also aware of it and has given us the marching mandate that nobody sleeps until Mrs Otu is returned to her colleagues.”
