The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a nationwide seven-day warning strike in response to the abduction of one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola. Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, has been held in captivity for over eight months.
The strike, which commenced at midnight on Monday, August 26, 2024, is intended to draw attention to her plight and the broader issue of security for medical professionals in Nigeria.
Dr. Popoola was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew, while traveling in Kaduna State. Although her husband was released in March 2024, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity. The ongoing ordeal has caused great concern among her colleagues, who have repeatedly called for her release.
In a statement issued during an emergency virtual meeting of the National Executive Council, NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, expressed the association’s frustration and announced the strike.
“The strike is total, and there will be no concessions or emergency care during this period,” Dr. Abdullahi said. He further emphasized that all federal and state medical centers should comply fully with the strike, warning that any center found to have violated the decision would face severe penalties, including exclusion from the upcoming NARD Annual General Meeting.
Before the strike was declared, NARD members had already staged protests across various tertiary hospitals in the country. On Thursday, August 15, 2024, resident doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta in Lagos, organized a demonstration to demand the immediate release of Dr. Popoola.
The protests reflected the growing anger and fear among medical professionals who increasingly feel unsafe in their line of work.
The abduction of Dr. Popoola is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of kidnappings targeting professionals, including doctors, in Nigeria. Over the past few years, the country has witnessed a surge in kidnapping cases, with many victims being held for ransom.
Nigeria has seen a significant increase in kidnappings for ransom, a crime that has become a major security challenge. The rise in abductions has been linked to various factors, including economic hardship, unemployment, and the activities of criminal gangs.
According to the Nigeria Security Tracker, an initiative of the Council on Foreign Relations, there were over 3,000 kidnapping incidents reported in 2023 alone, with thousands of people abducted across the country.
Dr. Abdullahi acknowledged the potential impact of the strike but insisted that it was necessary to draw attention to the dire situation faced by Dr. Popoola and other medical professionals at risk. “This strike is a warning, but it is total in effect. We cannot continue to work under these conditions while our colleague remains in captivity,” he stated.
NARD has called on the government to take immediate action to secure the release of Dr. Popoola and her nephew. The association has also urged the government to address the broader issue of insecurity that has left many professionals, including doctors, vulnerable to kidnappers.
Health sector stakeholders, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), have called on both NARD and the government to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issue and ensure the safe return of Dr. Popoola.
The NMA has also emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing insecurity in Nigeria, including improving the welfare and safety of healthcare workers. “The safety of our members is paramount, and we urge the government to take all necessary steps to ensure that medical professionals can carry out their duties without fear of abduction or harm,” said Dr. Uche Ojinmah, NMA President.
