Gunmen (file photo)

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Rivers of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has raised alarm that five medical Doctors have been abducted in the last three months.

According to theNMA, of the five medical doctors, one was shot dead in the process of his abduction while another is still in the custody of kidnappers more than 90 days after and it is not clear whether he is still alive.

The NMA revealed this as medical consultants working at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH on Wednesday embarked on strike also in protest of the incessant abduction of their colleagues by gunmen in the oil city.

Specifically, the strike was declared following the kidnap of Dr Alex Akani, a medical Consultant in the Department of  Family Medicine, UPTH early Friday morning at his residence at Rumuekini,  Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Port Harcourt.

He is still in custody of the kidnappers as at the time of filing in this story.

While announcing the strike on Tuesday evening, the Public Relations Officer of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association, UPTH, Dr. Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, said the doctors will only attend to emergency cases when they are

The NMA Public Relations Officer in the state, Dr Ohaka Justice, said while ” a female Doctor, Dr Florence Onua, Consultant Family Physician with the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital was shot dead in April in GRA, Port Harcourt, the whereabouts of Dr Bobmanuel Clark, who was abducted on March 23  is yet to regain his freedom and  his status is still uncertain, while Dr Ogbolomini, a retired medical Director was also kidnapped last month in from his clinic in Degema part of the State.

NMA said this is in addition to many unsuccessful kidnap attempts of medical personnel in the State.

NMA therefore urged the state government and the security agencies to ensure the release of their colleague still in detention.

The Spokesman of Rivers state Police Command Omoni Nnamdi DSP, however said the command has intensified efforts for the safe rescue of the victim and the arrest of his abductors.

It would be recalled that Medical Doctors in Rivers had on several occasions staged public protest over the incessant kidnap of  their colleagues as they seek assurances from security agencies that adequate protection will be provided for them.