Abducted Kaduna doctor: Minister petitions NSA, IG

The National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have been petitioned by Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to free Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a resident of Kaduna, who was abducted in December of last year and has been held captive in the abductors’ den for almost eight months.

Popoola, a registrar in the National Eye Centre’s Department of Ophthalmology in Kaduna State, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, together with her spouse, Squadron leader Nurudeen Popool, and their nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy.

On March 8, 2024, the husband was freed following multiple rounds of talks with the abductors; however, Abdul-Mugniy and the doctor remained captive.

It was also gathered that since the incident, the abductors had called severally at will and occasionally to allow some family members to speak with the captives, and they were spoken to last on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, to prove that the doctor and the nephew were still alive.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has repeatedly clamoured for P opoola’s release, with chapters of the association holding peaceful protests across different states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday.

The NARD threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if Popoola was not released by August 26.

In a letter dated August 12, the health minister, Pate, sought the intervention of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the IG, Kayode Egbetokun, to rescue the abducted medical doctor.

The letter was titled ‘RE: Kidnap of Resident Doctor at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna: A need for urgent intervention to avert industrial disharmony’.

The minister said, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is in receipt of a letter from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors Ref.no.NARD/SG/2023-2024/290724/788, dated 29th July 2024 (copy attached) on the above subject.

“In the letter under reference, the association informed of the abduction of one of their members, Dr. Ganiyat Olawole Popoola, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Care Centre, Kaduna and her nephew over seven months ago (December, 2023) and the victims have remained in the custody of the kidnappers to date.

“In view of the above, the ministry is requesting your urgent intervention not only to save the lives of the kidnapped victims but also to avert industrial disharmony in the health sector.

“While anticipating your prompt action, please accept the warm regards of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.”