By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, has staged a peaceful protest over the seven months abduction of their member in Kaduna.

It would be recalled that Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a medical practitioner at the National Eye Care Hospital, Kaduna, was abducted alongside her husband and visiting nephew when bandits raided the staff quarters of the hospital on December 27, 2023.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the sideline of the protest, the President of the ARD, UITH, Dr. Yusuf Muhammed, said the association is losing its patience as a result of the harrowing experience of its member in the hands of his captors.

He said: “It is becoming very worrisome, so we continue to engage with the managements at both the state and federal levels.
We also try to meet with several security agencies to see what they are doing, but because of the sensitivity of the matter, they could not divulge some information.

“What we intend to do is to bring this discussion to the limelight, so that well-meaning Nigerians can assist in pressing the government to secure her release.”

The President of the Association stated that their National body (NARD) has given the government two weeks to secure her release, adding that “August 16 marks the end of first week, and that it is expected at the end of the second week that the abducted colleague would be released”.

He warned that failure to secure her release on or before the second week, the National body would embark on industrial action.

Muhammed, therefore, advised the three of government to beef up security around institutions and the country as a whole.

“This is a sad reminder of insecurity bedeviling the country and we feel that this is another clarion call on government to rise to the occasion by beefing up security in work places to make it safe,” he added.