The Governor of Cross River state, Prof. Ben Ayade has approved 24- hour security coverage of medical doctors and other health practitioners in the state following the increasing cases of kidnapping of doctors. The decision was disclosed to newsmen by the Security Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Jude Ngaji. He said the decision was reached after series of meeting between the state government and doctors.
According to him
“The governor had a meeting with medical doctors and I also did the same. First, we had to make them understand that it was not as if doctors were being targeted for kidnapping as it was perceived.
“We have some recent cases of doctors being kidnapped. One was the doctor in Akamkpa while the other was the lady who was released after one day. The lady was returning from duty at about 1.30am when she was abducted.
“That same night that she was kidnapped, the security agencies met, took a decision and swung into action. That same night, about 11 persons were arrested for various criminal offences, although not within the Calabar metropolis. We have discovered that we have made the town too hot for them that they have relocated to neighbouring communities.
“What we have done, especially for the doctors, and we intend to do for all corporate organisations, is that the governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has approved 24-hour security services for doctors in the teaching hospital and other hospitals.”
He further disclosed that the state outfit, Homeland Security now has the responsibility of going to pick up doctors and other medical officials who are on night duty, particularly those residing in vulnerable areas.
“We now have the responsibility of going out to pick up doctors, especially the ones on duty, no matter how late. We would pay special attention to doctors who live in vulnerable areas.
“So, if a doctor is on duty and has the challenge of leaving where he or she is, the designated security men will go and pick up the doctor and also take him/her back home safely.
“This is a novel idea that we have just introduced and I am sure it is the first of its kind in the country. We are not doing it for doctors alone, other professionals will benefit from it. The Homeland Security personnel that are stationed all over the metropolis will take charge of that,” he said.
Doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association had embarked on strike in the state after two of their members were kidnapped within a week.
