From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU/AHPA) has called on the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to direct security agencies to do everything possible to ensure that they rescue the medical practitioner, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, her husband and other Nigerians in the hands of kidnappers nation wide.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman of the Association, Comrade, Kabiru Ado Minjibir and the National Secretary, Comrade Martin Egbanubi and issued to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement indicated that “The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU/AHPA) expresses heartfelt solidarity with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on the ongoing nationwide warning strike action embarked upon by the Association over the abduction of one of its members; a Registrar at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna; Dr Ganiyat Popoola since December 27, 2023.
“JOHESU/AHPA condemns in its entirety this incidence of eight months adoption of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, whom we learnt is a nursing mother.
“This is one adoption too many in the health sector where kidnappers have continued to carry out kidnaping activities without any form of resistance from the security apparatus.
“The vulnerability of health workers across health facilities in the country is capable of undermining healthcare delivery to citizens and consumers of healthcare across the country. This is a dangerous trend that requires emergency actions by all security agencies.
“JOHESU/AHPA therefore calls on the Federal Government and Governments at the sub-national levels to as a matter of urgency direct appropriate security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the kidnapped medical practitioner, her husband and other Nigerians in the den of kidnapers nationwide,” the unions demanded.
The unions further demanded that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take urgent security measures to direct security agencies to use their security technology in addressing security threat posed by various acts kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities in the country.
In conclusion, JOHESU/AHPA demands that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. should take urgent security measures as the Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces to direct appropriate security agencies to use the latest security technology in addressing the hydra-headed threat posed by various acts of kidnapping, banditry and other organised crimes in the country.
