…give Government 14 days to release kidnapped colleague
By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Medical Doctors in Cross River State have suspended the strike they embarked 40 days ago over the the abduction of their colleague, Prof. Ekanem Ephraim, a Neurologist with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The doctors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) called off the strike on Saturday, giving the State Government 14 days to secure the unconditional release of their kidnapped colleague.
Dr Felix Archibong, NMA Chairman in the state while briefing newsmen said the decision to suspend the 40-day-old strike was reached after an emergency meeting held earlier the same Saturday.
He said the strike was not to plunge the state into suffering but to express their grievances as they have now become targets for kidnappers.
“Arising from an emergency meeting from our secretariat today (Saturday), following an appeal letter from the governor of the state, Sen. Bassey Otu, the congress decided to suspend the strike for two weeks.
“We also hid the advice of our National President to give the government a soft landing, hence the decision to suspend the strike. We have given the government two weeks to get back our colleague alive.
“If any of our members is kidnapped within this period we won’t hesitate going back to continue the industrial action but we want to give the government the benefit of doubt based on the appeal of the governor and the assurance he has given us that she is still alive and will regain her freedom.
“We are also aware that a five million naira (N5m) bounty has been placed by the Cross River State Government which will be given to anyone with useful information to apprehend those behind the kidnapping and eventual release of Prof. Ekanem Ephraim.
“We are not calling off the industrial action, we only suspended it because, according to the governor, a lot of Cross Riverians are suffering and many are dying.
“As an association, we are not aware because we have not been going to our offices since the strike was declared, we only want to allow the government to fulfil the promise it has made and we have started seeing positive steps as security presence has increased in the metropolis.
“We are also appealing to those behind her abduction to please release her. We are not trying to flex muscles with anyone, all we ask for is the release of our colleague back to us alive,” Archibong said.
CONVERSEER reported earlier that Doctor Ephraim was kidnapped from her residence on July 13, 2023.
Her abduction led to the doctors downing their tools in all hospitals across the state.
Our Reporter gathered that a team of taskforce has been monitoring every hospital, especially the private ones, chasing away doctors.
“I’ve delivered my baby since last week but I cannot go home because there is no doctor to discharge me. Taskforce people do come here every time to chase doctors who are keen at helping away,” a woman who spoke under anonymity in a private hospital in Calabar told CONVERSEER.
CONVERSEER also reported that the Cross River State Government has pledged a N5m reward to anyone with credible information that can lead to the release and arrest of the medical doctor and her abductors.