University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

By Jethro Ibileke

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), on Monday joined the nationwide strike declared by the national leadership of the Association.

It was reliably gathered that the doctors stayed away from their duty post in protest of the kidnap of a Kaduna-based doctor, Ganiyat Popoola, who was reportedly abducted eight months ago.

Dozens of patients who visited the Hospital for medical care were stranded and forced to seek assistance elsewhere.

A patient who simple identified herself as Mrs. Felicia, who claimed to have travelled over 11 kilometers to honour appointment with her doctor, expressed dismay over the development.

The embittered patient who lamented that she also defied the early morning downpour to find her way to the Hospital, added: “I wasted my time and over ₦3,000 to and fro transport to get to the Hospital.”