The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has embarked on a 7-day warning strike, beginning Monday, August 26, 2024. This is in response to the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a Registrar Ophthalmologist at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, who has been held captive for over eight months.
The strike, which commenced at midnight was declared by NARD’s National Executive Council (NEC) after an emergency meeting to address the growing crisis. Dr. Dele Abdullahi, the President of NARD, made it clear that this strike is a desperate cry for justice and the safe return of their colleague.
Popoola, along with her husband and nephew, was kidnapped in a brutal raid by armed bandits on the hospital’s staff quarters in December 2023. While her husband was released in March 2024 due to severe health issues, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity, a situation that has sparked outrage and fear within the medical community.
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NARD’s strike is total, with no exceptions for emergency care, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The doctors are demanding immediate action from the government and security agencies to secure the release of Popoola and her nephew, whose prolonged captivity has become a symbol of the growing insecurity in Nigeria.
The medical community said that this strike is seen as a crucial step to force the authorities to act. The situation has drawn national attention, with many questioning the government’s ability to protect its citizens, especially those who risk their lives daily in service to others.
