The date was February 28th 2015. The venue was General Hospital Emohua, in Emohua local government area of Rivers state.
Everyone was going about their duties. Nothing suggested that danger was in the air. Suddenly, the rant of gunshot rented the air. Kidnappers were on rampage. They opened fire on two Medical doctors on duty. One was shot one in the left eye while the other on the leg. One of the doctors was later abducted. When the dust had settled, the abducted doctor it was learnt was one Dr Azubike Okara. Few days later, he was released.
Olugbenga Adewale and Jack Ohvunda Omodu who were kidnapped within the period of Okpara kidnap were rescued by men of the River state police command.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) River state chapter declared a one week mourning which began March 28th in honour of the late Okpara . At a press briefing that was addressed by the Chairman of NMA at the state, attempts were made to kidnap another doctor. Two dctors were shot and later hospitalized at the Emergency unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt.
A Growing Menace
Angered by the development, NMA staged a protest to draw the attention of the public to the spate of the kidnap of medical professionals in the state. They took the protest to the state Security department and the headquarters of the River state Police command. The NMA chairman Dr Ibifuno Green condemned the incessant kidnap of doctors in the state and the murder of Dr. Okpara. He pleaded with the Police not to sweep the issue under the carpet and find the perpetrators.
To calm the nerves of the protesting doctors, Mr Dan Batune, the Commissioner of Police said the police was fully aware of the issue and would do all within its powers to protect the doctors. He instructed all the Divisional Police Officers to provide security in all hospitals across the state.
All seem to have settled down until recently when the Kidnappers resurfaced at Ekiti. This time around, in full swing.
Their long axe landed on the former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Dr Patrick Adegun and Mrs Magaret Aladenika, a theatre Nurse with the Federal Teaching Hospital , Ido-Ekiti. Reports had it that Adegun was kidnapped alongside his wife Kokelomo , few meters to the gate of their house located at Goshen Avenue , Federal Housing Estate in Ekiti metropolis.
No fewer than five doctors at Ekiti have gotten threat messages ever since the kidnappers began kidnapping doctors in the state. Medical professionals in the state now live in fear as no one knows who will be picked up by the kidnappers next.
NMA Ekiti chapter immediately raised alarm over the rate of Kidnap of her members. It immediately instructed them to remove the association sticker from their vehicle as palliative measure and avoid keeping late night.
Dr John Akinbote, State NMA chairman says the police is not doing enough to protect the doctors in the state. According to him, “We are disturbed and grossly disappointed at the level of protective and investigative measures put in place by the police so far in curbing the menace of kidnapping in the state especially that of doctors. It is in this state that doctors are getting threat text messages on their phones and we gave the police the phone numbers involved and nothing seems to be done. A member of my association got a threat text message to deposit a sum of money to a particular account or prepare for kidnap. And we gave that phone number to the police. If they are working, why have they not worked on that tip, with all the technology in town to track down such people?”
The police on its part says they are doing their best. The commands Spokesman ASP Alberto Adeyemi said : “ We are doing our best. We are definitely making progress. Apart from the officers and men on ground in the command, we are getting support of additional persons from the IGP, we will soon bust the kidnappers gang.”
Investigations revealed that the kidnap of medical professionals have been on for sometime. On November 29 2013, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) ,Irrua, Edo state, Dr Sunday Eruzegbua was kidnapped along with his pregnant wife,child and house help while driving home. After a short drive in his car, he received a gun shot on his chest. He died before help could reach him. Just last year, Prof Ambrose Isah of Internal Medicine department , University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), got a share of his ordeal with Kidnappers. All was set for him to deliver the 149th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in few days time. This was not to be so. He was kidnapped close to his residence off campus. When he was finally released days after, he delivered the inaugural lecture. At the lecture, he relieved the ordeal he spent in the hands of the kidnappers and called on the audience not only to pray for the country but also contribute towards alleviating the plight of poor people which he said was the cause of kidnap of doctors in the country. For Dr (Mrs) Olusola Otulana , consultant Opthalmologist with the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) , Ago Iwoye, Ogun state, it was hell in the hands of kidnappers. Returning from Ikorodu in Lagos State in May 2012, she was trailed by kidnappers who abducted her between Idumota and Ijebu Ode before forcefully taken her away to an unknown destination.
Moved by the perpetual kidnap of Medical professions in Edo state , Dr Osahon Enabulele organized the Maiden March Against Kidnappers Protest in August 2009. The protest attracted the Oba of Benin HRH Omo N’ Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkpolo Oba Erediauwa to lead spiritual warfare against kidnaapers and robbers. Lead by the Chief Priest and the Isekhuere of Benin Kingdom Chief Nosakhare Isekhuere and the traditional Prime Minister Chief Sam Igbe , who doubles as the Iyase of Benin Kingdom , traditional stakeholders including the elderly and youth repeatedly cursed the kidnappers and criminals and invoked the gods to cleans the state of criminal activities and kidnapping in 2010.
At The Mercy of Kidnappers
The resurfacing of kidnappers and the spate of kidnap of doctors has made members of the public to wonder what the doctors have done that has now placed them at the mercy of kidnappers.
Dr Efeomo Igbinige of Royal Clinic and Maternity in Benin city says it is a sacrilege for a doctor to be kidnapped. According to her, the disturbing news of Ekiti doctors kidnapped calls for general concern.
Asked what she thinks could be responsible for the trend, she said: “It is the general notion that doctors are rich. The government should be blamed for giving false impression that doctors are rich. This old belief is outdated. This account for the level of students struggling to study medicine and hoping to become doctors. Despite the sacrifice doctors make, many of them are still being owned salaries. Few days ago, I read in the papers, doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (LTH) Ogbomosho , Oyo state, protesting the none payment of their allowance spanning into five months. Now, tell me, despite the work we do as doctors, we are being owned allowances and these kidnappers now prefer to go for us, they (Kidnappers) need to reconsider their steps. For crying out loud, doctors are not rich people, they just live average life. As Doctors, we are custodians of health and a situation where the custodians are no longer safe and being attacked by kidnappers is something that should not be treated with levity.”
She added “Do you know that in times of war, if you identify yourself as a doctor, you are spared. This is accounted for by the nature of your work. Is it not an irony that when we go on strike to demand the needful including better security and welfare for doctors , we are accused by Nigerians as not only proud but good for nothing, in the profession for nothing but money making. Newspaper editorials are quick at attacking us, people hold meeting to force us back to work. Now that we are being attacked by kidnappers, I am yet to see those newspaper editorials writing about it. No one is concerned.”
Psychological Side Effects
On how this could affect the doctors psychologically, Dr Efeomo observed, “There are many. A kidnapped doctor is likely going to perform poorly at work. Service delivery will be affected. No one wants to work in an insecure environment. The performance of the doctor will be evident on the way he discharges his duty. In extreme case, it will lead to shutting down of our hospitals and strike. As a Journalist you can attest to the fact that doctors’ strike is fatal. The Casualties is much.”
“If this situation (Kidnap f doctors)is not arrested, it can lead to a condition of migration of doctors from Nigeria to other countries where they are safe. Currently, Nigeria lacks enough specialist doctors and if they migrate, it will further reduce the number which will spell doom for us as a country.”
A Benin based Lawyer; Jimoh Aikpitanze says the perpetual Kidnap of doctors is not only barbaric.
“For doctors to be victim of kidnap goes to show the failure of government and the police in discharging their duties.” He blamed the security agencies for not doing enough to protect citizens.
He added, “ the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary responsibility of the Governmnet’ (Section 14, Subsection 2, A) , that section of the constitution has clearly spelt out the duty of the government and a situation where people are still being kidnapped shows that the government has failed in its duty to protect not only doctors but Nigerians.
Miss Cynthia Okundia, a visitor at the General Practice Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ugbowo, said, “The role of doctors in a society is pivotal. They render health care and a situation where their security is not guaranteed can lead to drop in their efficiency and a loss of confidence in the profession. The continuous kidnap will not only deter foreign investors but will also lead to situation where foreign doctors and patients will be unwilling to visit Nigeria for Medical tourism.”
The Public Relations officer of the University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBEMSA), Kelvin Osayande said poverty accounts for the level of kidnap of doctors. A situation where people can’t provide their basic needs make them resort to crime and now believe that the best way to survive is to live through others. This mode of living is parasitic.”
He added, “Doctors form an integral part of the society. It is unfair for someone making so much sacrifice and trying to give his best to the society to be victimized through kidnapping. Their kind of work, the working environment has made them auspicious in the society and that why a lot of eyes are on them. Those kidnappers must realize that doctors are not the only well paid professionals in the society. They should reconsider their steps and let Nigerian doctors be.
A sweeper at Central Hospital Benin city Mrs Kate Ajayi, sweeping the walkway at Central Hospital Benin City, felt the level of security in hospitals is poor.
“Take a look at this hospital, observe the gate post, go to the wards and the administrative block. Count the number of security men (Police or Soldiers) you will see there. Then go to the Edo state House of Assembly. Do the same thing. Compare the number of security men and you will be amazed at the difference. We do not have enough security men manning our hospitals. This is what makes it easy for Kidnappers to get in and do what they have to do. Back then, armed robbers use to storm hospitals in Benin and robbed patients. ”
In a telephone interview, Immediate past National President of NMA and currently Vice President of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) Dr Osahon Enabulele said he is not surprised that the police is finding it hard to handle the kidnap of doctors.
“Over the years, there has been declining investment in the equipping and upgrading of security outfits. This was what lead Nigerians to clamour for state police years back. Nigerians saw that the National security forces especially the police was finding it hard to deal with the rate of crime escalation. It is pathetic that in Nigeria today, we have laws that are not being followed.”
He said government at all levels must invest in the welfare of people by means of job security, social infrastructure and more egalitarian opportunities if the problem must be solved.
Enabulele advised all doctors to work out their own security. This, according to him is not necessarily harming themselves with weapon but ensuring they keep to simple security tips and goo to the hospital early enough.
How do we ensure the safety of doctors and the general populace from the growing claws of Kidnappers?
Eddy Uwoghiren is a student of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
The above feature news report was first published in Page 31 and 32, Sunday July 19th 2015 Edition of THE NATION NEWSPAPER, Nigeria.
Send your reactions to +2348181140032 or Eddykurrent2011@yahoo.com
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