Medical Directors of most privately-owned hospitals in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, have beefed up security in their facilities following the kidnap of a medical doctor.
Before the security alert, the medical director of Smile Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr. Johnson Obuna was kidnapped by three gunmen.
A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the state was also abducted.
Both men have been rescued by the state police.
Dr. Obuna, a former chair of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), according to the State Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdullah, was kidnapped at about 8pm recently.
Investigations revealed that since the kidnap, there has been tension and panic among most medical directors in the state as many of them have now hired security operatives as bodyguards.
It was also observed that some of them who are yet to engage the services of security operatives visit their private clinics in disguise and also spend little time in the clinic.
A patient in one of the clinics along Afikpo Road, Mrs. Chinyere Iteshi said, “Since the news of the kidnap of the medical director of Smile Hospital, Dr. Obuna, my doctor who usually came to the clinic at about 4pm and stayed till 8pm, now comes around 4pm and leaves in less than 30 minutes.”
Continuing, she said, “On two occasions, the doctor came to the clinic on a commercial tricycle or Keke NAPEP, a development that was strange to most of us until we were informed that he is being security conscious. At times, you see him with a T-shirt, Jeans trousers and face cap, all in a bid to disguise himself; I think the security personnel should reassure people of their safety to enable them go about their normal business”.
When The Nation visited some other private hospitals and clinics within the capital city, it was also observed that some security operative now guild the hospitals and clinics while cars and other vehicles now go through serious checks before they are allowed to go also within the city.
Meanwhile, The State Commissioner of Police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdallah has warned those who want to bring disquiet and disorder in the State to stay clear from the state as the command would engage such persons with all lawful force to ensure that they are dealt with.
The CP state that; in the early hours of 8th September, 2015, a distress call was received by the operations control room of Ebonyi State Police Command that a medical doctor in Abakaliki was kidnapped by hoodlums”.
“A combined team of SARS, Anti kidnapping, SIB operation, patrol teams from central police station and Area Command Abakaliki quickly swung into action and rescued the victim hale and hearty”.
The CP who stated that she believes in team work noted that every police officer in the state is key to providing adequate security to Ebonyi community adding that security is every one’s business.
She assured residents of the State of her determination to put to a stop kidnapping, armed robbery, communal conflicts and cult activities adding that men of the command would comb all criminal hideouts in the state to arrest and prosecute those arrested.
A medical Practitioner who spoke to The Nation on grounds of anonymity commended the new Commissioner for Police for rescuing the kidnap doctor in less than 24 hours he was abducted adding that she has exhibited her readiness to fight crime to a stop in the State.
The Medical Doctor also commended men of the command for the stop and search approach especially at night pointing out that with such measures, hoodlums would find it difficult to operate in the state.
He urged the State Governor Chief Dave Umahi to urgently make available to the command the security gadgets pointing out that it would go a long way in communicating the different patrol teams of any eventuality.
Dr. Obuna, an Obstetrician gynecologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki was kidnapped by unknown gunmen when he was about leaving his hospital after the day’s work at Aguogboriga Estate in Abakaliki.
Similarly, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA has shelved their intended strike action following the rescue of their former Chairman.
The union State Chairman Dr. Agwu Umahi had in a chat with newsmen threatened to embark on strike action if their colleague was not released to them.
He noted that kidnap of medical doctors in the state has become a trend and should be discouraged by security agencies.
