The Association of Resident Doctors, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, has on Monday embarked on a peaceful protest to demand for the immediate and unconditional release of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted by bandits in December last year.
The UDUTH chapter of the union also used the opportunity to call on both the state and federal governments to ensure her unconditional release within one week, however threatened to embark on nationwide strike if she is not reunited with her family and loved ones by August 26.
Addressing newsmen shortly after a peaceful protest within the hospital premises on Monday, the chairman of the chapter, Dr Uzairu Abdullahi, condemned the continued silence of the government on the incident.
He said, ” On behalf of the Supreme Congress of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) UDUTH, we are here today to express our deep concerns to the government and all security stakeholders regarding the continued detention of our colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
“The federal and state governments must understand that the prolonged captivity of Dr. Ganiyat is severely affecting our morale as medical professionals.
” Dr. Ganiyat is not only a dedicated medical practitioner but also a mother of five young children, suffering in the hands of criminals.
“We earnestly appeal to the federal government to take all necessary measures to secure her immediate release and thereby avert a nationwide industrial action.
“We have seen well-known Nigerians rescued within days or weeks, but in the case of this patriotic citizen, Dr. Ganiyat Papoola, it has been eight months, with ongoing phone conversations between the criminals and certain individuals. Despite this, the criminals remain untraced.
“We are calling on both state and federal governments to show more compassion and urgency in this matter to prevent a total shutdown of services if she is not rescued by the 26th of August”
The chairman further said, “it is not our wish to take this drastic direction, but we are compelled by the disheartening circumstances and the government’s poor response to this issue.
“We urge the government to act with the same swiftness and commitment that has been shown to other high-profile cases across the nation”
Also speaking, Dr Fauziyat Abdullah, who is a personal friend to the abducted Doctor, in a tense voice appeal on the federal government and security agencies to ensure the safety return of her friend and colleagues.
She described Dr Ganiyat, as a dedicated medical Doctor and a lovely mother to her children, whom she said always put the interest of her patient at heart in the course of her duty.
