The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bauchi State chapter, said it received with shock the news of the gruesome murder of the son of one of its members by criminal elements in Bauchi Metropolis on Saturday.
Chairman of the association, Dr Lamaran Makama Dattijo, in a statement, said that at this trying period when they were battling the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, “it is worrisome that our member who is active in the field is forced to bear the distress of kidnap and subsequent killing of his son.”
The statement further said that “It is worthy to note that the deceased, a 15-year-old son of our member was forcefully taken from his father’s house in broad daylight and was subsequently murdered despite payment of ransom.
“The association also notes with grave concern that some doctors received messages of threat in the recent past. It is depressing to note that the community we serve has now become a source of threat to the lives of our members and their families.”
“The NMA appreciates the work done so far by our security agencies in apprehending the suspected persons. We expect them to leave no stone unturned to unravel the circumstances surrounding this heinous crime.
“While we call on our members to continue to render services to the society in this trying time, as sworn under our Hippocratic Oath, continuity of such will be greatly hampered if doctors have to worry about threats to their lives and those of their family members.
“We, therefore, call on the authority to do all within its power to ensure doctors feel safe to contribute to the development of the state.”
