The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State branch, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security agencies to secure the immediate release of their colleague, Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, who was abducted on October 30.
The call was made in a communiqué signed by Dr. Princeston Okam and Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, Chairman and Secretary of the NMA, respectively, at the end of an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held on Saturday.
Dr. Mbanugo, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, was reportedly kidnapped in front of the hospital at Uruagu, Nnewi, on the evening of October 30.
The NMA said the kidnappers had not contacted Mbanugo’s family, friends, or colleagues as of the time of the meeting, stressing the urgency for government and security agencies to act.
“A 72-hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra government to secure the immediate release of our colleague, Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo. If, at the expiration of this timeline, our member is not released, all doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA will down tools until he is freed,” the communiqué stated.
The association further noted that an emergency meeting would be convened within the next 72 hours to review progress on securing Dr. Mbanugo’s release.
The NMA also confirmed that relevant government agencies had been duly informed and assured the public that doctors would continue to provide quality healthcare services despite the prevailing security challenges.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Anambra State Police Command were unsuccessful. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, did not respond to calls or messages sent to him.
