The Nigerian Medical Association has threatened to shut down hospitals in Rivers State following the incessant abduction of its members of recent.
The NMA Secretary in Rivers State, Dr. Hope Avundaa, stated this in Port Harcourt the state capital on Wednesday.
Dr. Avundaa was reacting to the kidnap of one of their own, Dr. Steven Bagshaw, currently undergoing posting at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Bagshaw, who is a senior registrar with the Rivers State Government, was reportedly kidnapped at the entrance of his residence near a new generation bank in the Rumuokoro axis of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state while returning from work at about 9.45pm last Saturday.
Dr. Avundaa said, “The Rivers State NMA is preparing to implement our anti-kidnap protocol of shutting down all facilities in the state.
“We encourage members to be safety conscious and take appropriate security measures this period.
“The NMA Rivers State has reached out to security agents, the state Director, Department of State Services, Rivers State Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations.”
While noting that the abductors had contacted the family, the NMA scribe said the body was in touch with Dr. Bagshaw’s wife and is supporting her in this trying time.
Cases of kidnapping had surged in the state in the last one month, leading to the Yuletide season.
On Monday night, December 12, 2022, gunmen kidnapped along Road 10 junction, Akwaka Phase 2, in Rumuodomaya, Obio/Akpor LGA of the state.
The gunmen reportedly trailed their target to the area, intercepted the vehicle she was in, dragged her out into their waiting car before zooming off.
In a related development, two women were whisked at a pharmacy along the Apara Link Road, off NTA Road in Port Harcourt last Tuesday.
This came as the state Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, gave a ten day ultimatum to cultists and other criminal gangs to submit firearms in their possession or be prosecuted at the expiration of the grace period.
While lamenting the number of firearms in the hands of unauthorised persons in the state, he said the police under his command would not tolerate a situation where miscreants commit all manner of crimes and disturb the peace of Rivers State.
