The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Cross River chapter, has expressed dismay over the prolonged captivity of its member, Professor Ekanem Ephraim, who has been held captive for 148 days without release.
NMA’s chairman, Dr. Felix Archibong, conveyed this concern to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Calabar, the state capital, on Monday. Prof. Ephraim, a staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, was kidnapped on July 13 in the Atimbo area of Calabar Municipality.
The abduction of Prof. Ephraim led to the NMA initiating a 40-day industrial action. The strike was later suspended following appeals from Governor Bassey Otu, who emphasized the adverse impact of the strike on innocent citizens.
Dr. Archibong highlighted, “Following a letter of appeal from Gov Otu, advice of the national president of the association and for the sake of many of the citizens who are suffering, we suspended the strike to give the government time to rescue our member.”
He further expressed, “This action has been carried out despite the fact that our member has not been released; however, if any of our members is kidnapped again, we will go back to strike.” Dr. Archibong also urged security agencies to intensify their efforts, reinforcing the progress made in recent weeks in reducing kidnapping incidents in the state.
However, the NMA chairman expressed deep regret that despite assurances from security agencies and the state government, there has been no progress in securing the release of Prof. Ephraim.
Dr. Archibong emphasized that the pervasive insecurity in the state has rendered it uninhabitable, with numerous individuals, including medical personnel, falling victim to kidnapping. He underscored, “This is the situation in the state and, regrettably, our colleague is still in captivity after 148 days. We are trying so hard not to make industrial action another alternative to getting the government and security agencies to keep to their promises.”
In the face of this distressing situation, the NMA’s outcry serves as a clarion call for urgent and effective measures to ensure the safe release of Prof. Ephraim and to curtail the prevailing insecurity in the region.
