Key points
- The Nigerian Medical Association, Abia Branch, has issued a 24 hour ultimatum for the immediate release of Dr Bonaventure Aguocha.
- Failure to secure his release will trigger a total and indefinite strike in the state starting from Tuesday, June 2.
- The renowned orthopaedic surgeon was abducted on May 24 while returning to Umuahia from Imo State.
- The association noted that medical practitioners have increasingly become targets of assaults, harassment, intimidation, and abduction.
- The communique called on the Department of State Services, Inspector General of Police, and state governors to intensify rescue efforts.
Main Story
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State branch, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies and the governments of Abia and Imo States to secure the immediate release of its member, Dr Bonaventure Aguocha.
The ultimatum was contained in a communique issued after an Emergency General Meeting and jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr Ezenwa Ezuruike, and Secretary, Dr Clement Ifenkoronye. The document was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday.
The association warned that failure to secure the doctor’s release would result in a total and indefinite strike in Abia State from 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
It said the meeting was convened to address the continued captivity of Dr Aguocha, who was abducted on May 24 while travelling from Imo State to Umuahia.
The NMA described him as a respected orthopaedic surgeon, teacher, mentor and former Abia NMA Chairman, noting that he had rendered selfless service in both states.
It said the incident reflected a disturbing pattern of attacks on medical professionals, citing the unresolved 2020 abduction of a former Chief Medical Director of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Uwadinachi Iweha.
The association called on the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and Commissioners of Police in Abia and Imo to intensify efforts to secure his release.
It also urged the governors of both states to deploy all necessary resources and influence to ensure his prompt freedom.
The congress appealed to the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and Nigerians to support efforts to rescue the doctor.
It warned that failure to act within the ultimatum period would further undermine healthcare workers’ confidence in government and could negatively affect healthcare delivery in both states.
The Issues
- Protecting medical practitioners from becoming routine targets of assault, harassment, intimidation, and kidnapping by criminal elements.
- Overcoming the erosion of healthcare workers’ confidence in the government’s capacity to guarantee basic operational safety.
- Managing the systemic impact on healthcare delivery across two states when physicians are forced to down tools in protest.
What’s Being Said
- Outlining the vulnerability of physicians who face security threats despite working under poor domestic service conditions, the communiqué stated: “Doctors have increasingly become targets of assaults, harassment, intimidation and abduction by criminal elements, in spite their commitment to providing quality healthcare under challenging conditions of poor motivation and remuneration,”
What’s Next
- The association will commence a total and indefinite strike from 8a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, if the physician is not released.
- Security agencies including the DSS and state police commands are expected to scale up active rescue efforts.
- Community leaders, traditional rulers, and well-meaning Nigerians will be engaged to join institutional efforts to secure the surgeon’s freedom.
Bottom Line
Protesting a pattern of targeted criminal attacks against medical workers, the Abia State Branch of the NMA has threatened to launch a total and indefinite strike beginning June 2 unless state governments and security agencies secure the immediate release of abducted orthopaedic surgeon Dr Bonaventure Aguocha.
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