By Ovie Okpare
Suspected kidnappers of the medical doctor attached to Ojobo General Hospital in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Wisdom Iboyitete, have reportedly contacted the victim’s family demanding N5 million ransom.
Local community sources aware of the development confirmed the demand of the ransom to our correspondent on Wednesday.
It was alleged that the kidnappers had earlier demanded N10 million before later reducing the price to N5 million.
Dr. Iboyitete, a Principal Medical Officer at the General Hospital, was kidnapped in the earlier hours of Monday by arms-wielding gunmen at the hospital premises before whisking him to unknown destination.
Sources said the abductors established contact with the victim’s family on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Delta Medical Doctors Declare Two-Day Warning Strike Over Kidnap Of Colleague
The community sources, who pleaded anonymity, added that the leaders of the community are still pleading for the unconditional release of the medical practitioner.
NIGER DELTA TODAY Online could not, however, confirmed if a truce had been reached with the hoodlums on the alleged ransom.
Gunmen who pretended to be patients seeking medical help had escaped with the doctor through the creeks in the Ijaw riverine community.
Recall that medical practitioners in the state had declared a two-day warning strike to protest the kidnap of Iboyitete. The warning strike took effect on Tuesday June 2, 2020.
The two-day warning strike was declared by the state branch of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) at the end of its emergency meeting of the body.
