NMA Gives 72-Hr Ultimatum over Abducted Doctor in Anambra

Awka, Anambra State: The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra branch, has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security agencies to secure the freedom of their colleague, Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo, who was abducted on October 30.

The NMA made the call in a communiqué signed by Dr Princeston Okam and Dr Obiaeli Ifeanyi, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, at the end of an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held on Saturday.

The NMA said Mbanugo, a Consultant Neurosurgeon with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, was kidnapped in front of his hospital at Uruagu, Nnewi, in the evening of Oct. 30.

The NMA said the kidnappers had not established communication with Mbanugo’s family, relatives, friends or colleagues as of the time of the meeting, urging the government and security agencies to rise to this challenge immediately.

“A 72-hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra government to secure the immediate release of our colleague, Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo.

“If at the expiration of the above timeline and our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA, Anambra, will down tools until our member is released.

“An emergency meeting will be convened within the next 72 hours to review the progress made so far,” it said.

The NMA stated that relevant government agencies had been duly informed and assured that doctors would continue to deliver quality healthcare services to the people of Anambra, despite the prevailing challenges.

Efforts to get a reaction from the police were unfruitful, as SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra Command, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him.