Eustace Oseghale, chairman of the Edo chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has directed doctors in the state to commence a withdrawal of services from Saturday over the abduction of two colleagues.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday, in which Oseghale said the action was necessitated by the deteriorating security situation and increasing threats to healthcare workers in Edo.
Two medical doctors were reportedly abducted in separate incidents across the state on January 1 and 2.
One of the victims, Babatunde Abu, was reportedly kidnapped in Auchi, with his abductors demanding a ransom of N100 million.
Oseghale said the association considers the situation unacceptable and stressed the urgent need for decisive intervention to secure the release of the abducted doctors and prevent similar incidents.
“We will continue to withhold services until our colleagues are released and adequate security measures are put in place,” he said.
He called for the immediate release of the abducted doctors, improved security for residents, and sustained engagement between the Edo state government and the association to address security challenges affecting healthcare delivery.
Oseghale warned that medical services across the state would remain suspended until the association’s demands are met.
He also urged security agencies to act swiftly and treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.