How Abducted Cross River doctor was released after protest and many more

Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River State on Saturday refused to return to work after their colleague, Dr. Emem Udoh, was released by kidnappers.

Udoh, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was kidnapped in her house in Calabar on Monday after she returned from work.

Following the incident, doctors on Wednesday commenced a sit-at-home strike on the basis that about six of their colleagues had been kidnapped in the last few months.

They, however, promised to call off the action as soon as Udoh was released.

But rising from an emergency meeting after Udoh’s release on Friday, one of the doctors, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday, said the sit-at-home action would continue because neither the state government nor the security agencies did anything to facilitate the release of their colleague.

The state police command through its spokesperson, Irene Ugbo, claimed on Friday that Udoh was released after the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad mounted pressure on the kidnappers.

Ugbo also said no ransom was paid to secure Udoh’s release from the kidnapper’s den, but the NMA member said ransom was paid through the communication channel with the abductors without any input from the police.

The doctor said, “She was released the normal way a kidnap victim, who paid ransom, will be released. I do not know the exact amount paid but I know ransom was paid.

“In Cross River State, they are playing the ostrich. At this age and time, a top government official is still under the illusion that the state is the safest place in the country. We should stop playing with people’s life. The first duty of any government is the security and welfare of life of its citizens. Once that fails, the issue of industrialisation and tourism is zero.”