Benin City: The Edo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has declared that doctors across the state will not resume work until their kidnapped colleague is safely released.
In a statement, jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Eustace Oseghale, and the Secretary, Dr Iluobe Inegbenosun, on Wednesday in Benin, the association said the decision was informed by the worsening security situation in the state.
It expressed dismay over the continued captivity of Abu Babatunde, a medical doctor kidnapped in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, since Jan. 1.
The union said medical services would remain withdrawn until there was concrete assurance of the safety of its members.
The medical association strongly disapproved of the prevailing insecurity in the state, noting that protecting lives and property must be treated as a priority.
The decision to sustain the strike, it said, followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, adding that the action would remain indefinite until the abducted doctor was safely released.
“Our member who was abducted in Auchi must be released unhurt. Until this is achieved, the ongoing strike will continue,” the union insisted.
The NMA called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently restructure the state’s security framework to address the rising cases of kidnapping and violent crime.
The proposed security overhaul, it said, should include integrating local vigilance groups with proper monitoring and assessment mechanisms to improve security responses across communities.
It also condemned what he described as intimidation of doctors, warning that such actions could escalate the crisis rather than resolve it.
The association urged the state government to demonstrate an urgent commitment to protecting lives and property.
It warned that private medical practitioners might join the strike if the abducted doctor was not released and security concerns were not promptly addressed.
