The Association of Resident Doctors at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, has staged a protest demanding the immediate release of their abducted colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
The doctors issued a 10-day ultimatum for her unconditional release, vowing that failure to secure her freedom by August 26 could lead to an industrial strike.
During the peaceful demonstration at ABUTH, the protesters carried placards with messages calling for Dr. Popoola’s release.
Speaking at the protest, the association’s president, Suleiman-Isah Adah, warned, “We cannot guarantee industrial harmony if Dr. Popoola is not released or rescued by August 26.” He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that Dr. Popoola, a mother of five and a breastfeeding mother to a six-month-old, is a medical practitioner at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.
Dr. Popoola, her husband, and a visiting nephew, Abdul-Mughniy Folaranmi, were abducted on December 27, 2023, during a raid by bandits on the hospital’s staff quarters. While her husband was later released due to his deteriorating health condition after meeting the abductors’ demands, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Adah stressed that the association’s members would be compelled to take industrial action if the captives are not rescued within the given timeframe. He called on the government, security agencies, and relevant authorities to intensify efforts to ensure their safe return.
