Niger Doctors Give Govt 72-hour Ultimatum To Rescue Abducted Member

Niger State chapter of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has given the state government a 72-hour ultimatum to rescue its abducted member, Dr Tony Eghagagara, head of Medical Services at New Bussa General Hospital, Borgu local government area.

LEADERSHIP reports that the medical doctor was abducted in Wawa, a suburb of New Bussa by bandits who have allegedly requested for N150 million ransom.

In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting, jointly signed by its chairman, Dr Mustapha Mohammed-Aliyu and the general secretary, Dr Musa Alhaji-Shehu, threatened to shut down the state health sector if their colleague was not rescued after the 72-hour ultimatum.

The communiqué warned thus: “We demand that the government immediately go in and rescue our member; we will no longer tolerate excuses.

If at the expiration of this ultimatum, the government does not rescue our colleague, NAGGMDP will shut down the system and withdraw all services across the state without exception.

“The government must take immediate responsibility for the welfare of the family of our kidnapped member, providing full financial and logistical support during this crisis. We are issuing a final 72-hour ultimatum starting from 00:00 hours on Saturday and ending at 00:00 hours on Tuesday, followed by sustained peaceful demonstrations,” the doctors added.

They also demanded compulsory security attachments for all health workers in high-risk areas to protect them from attacks.

declaring thus “the Congress of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Niger State Branch, views with grave concern and mounting frustration the worsening insecurity and the targeted victimisation of healthcare workers across the state”.

“This Emergency General Meeting was convened against the backdrop of a systemic failure to protect those on the front lines of service delivery”, the Doctors added in the communiqué.

They recalled that a doctor was kidnapped at the Gulu General Hospital, Lapai, in the past, and attacks on various hospital facilities that have left members in a state of perpetual fear, and recently, a Nurse at General Hospital Kagara, Rafi local government area of the state, was killed.