Kidnapped and Forgotten? NARD Protests 7-Month Ordeal of Colleague

In a show of solidarity and concern, members of the Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan Chapter, staged a peaceful protest today to demand the immediate and safe release of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive by kidnappers for seven agonizing months.

Dr. Popoola, a dedicated and skilled resident doctor at the National Eye Center in Kaduna State, was abducted on December 2023, alongside her husband and nephew, in a brutal incident that has left her family, friends, and colleagues in distress. Despite numerous appeals and efforts, her whereabouts remain unknown, and her safety is a growing concern.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors UCH Ibadan chapter, Dr. John Oladapo, addressed the protesters, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action. He issued a clear ultimatum to both the federal government and the Kaduna State government, demanding Dr. Popoola’s safe and immediate release within seven days. Failure to do so, he warned, will prompt resident doctors nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike, crippling healthcare services across the country.

The protesters marched around the UCH premises, carrying placards with powerful messages, including ‘FREE DR. POPOOLA GANIYAT NOW’, ‘IS IT A CRIME TO BE A DOCTOR?’, ‘SEVEN MONTHS IN CONTINUED CAPTIVITY’, and ‘PROTECT OUR COLLEAGUES, PROTECT OUR HOSPITALS’. Their demonstration highlights the growing frustration and concern among medical professionals about the safety and security of their colleagues, particularly in the face of rising kidnapping and violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria.

The NARD’s demands echo the urgent need for authorities to take decisive action to ensure Dr. Popoola’s release, address the broader issue of kidnapping and violence against healthcare workers, and provide adequate security measures to protect medical professionals and facilities across the country.”