Anambra State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security agencies to secure the release of their colleague, Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo who was abducted on October 30.
The NMA made the call on Saturday in a communiqué at the end of an Emergency General Meeting, EGM, held on Saturday.
According to the NMA, the assailants kidnapped Mbanugo, a Consultant Neurosurgeon with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, in front of his hospital at Uruagu, Nnewi in the evening of October 30.
The NMA also revealed that the criminals had not yet established communication with Mbanugo’s family, relatives, friends or colleagues.
“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 the above time line and our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA, Anambra will down tools until our member is released,” it said.
The doctors furthers stated that relevant government agencies had been duly informed and assured that doctors would continue to deliver quality healthcare services to Anambra people in spite of the prevailing challenges.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get reaction from the Police was unfruitful as SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra Command did not respond to calls and messages sent to him.
