By Thelma Akpan
Medical doctors in Cross River State on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the office of the state governor during a protest against the kidnap of their colleague who was abducted last weekend in Calabar.
Dr Vivien Out, a pediatrician with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was reportedly abducted by gunmen on Friday night and was yet to be released.
The protesting doctors, who demanded the immediate release of their colleague who they claimed was kidnapped around the Marian Area of the state capital, lamented that doctors in the state had suffer so much in the hands of kidnappers who constantly harass their members.
The protesters who had earlier marched through the streets of the city, ended their peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office after they had earlier stopover at the State House of Assembly where they were received by the speaker, Eteng Williams.
Speaking for the medical doctors, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Innocent Abang, complained that their members had become endangered species in the state in spite of their contribution to society.
Abang said, “We have come to present our grievances to the governor because of the incessant kidnap of our colleagues and how we have become endangered species in Cross River State.
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“We pay tax in this state and we are protecting lives and saving lives. So, we want to tell the government to please protect our land and give us the privilege to save lives.”
They demanded for the immediate release of Dr. Out and more protection for their colleagues in the state.
“The State Security Adviser, who is standing in for the Governor who is not around, should brief us how far they have gone, to assure us that our colleague is safe and will be released to us today.
“We don’t want it beyond today. We want Cross River State to be safe from kidnapping. Other states are doing well now. We can also do well”, the NMA chairman further demanded.
While receiving the protesters, Cross River House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Williams, promised to work with the executive arm to ensure speedy release of the kidnapped doctor.
He also assured doctors and other residents of the state of improved security.
Also speaking, while receiving the protesters on behalf of Governor Ben Ayade, State Security Adviser (South), Ani Esin, disclosed that the state government was working with security agencies for the safe return of their abducted colleagues.
Esin added, “We have been working round the clock since this happened and right now I can say that we are on top of this situation. The governor is also aware of it and has given us the marching mandate that nobody sleeps until Mrs Otu is returned to her colleagues.”
