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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
The Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State (NMA-CRS) branch has demanded immediate release of one of their colleagues, Prof. Prof. Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, from kidnappers den alive or dead or faces total lock down of the heath sector.
Prof. Ekanem was whisked away from her private clinic July 13, 2023, making it 28 days in captivity. Her kidnap brings to 14 total numbers of doctors that have been kidnapped in the last five years.
To protest the ugly occurrence, the NMA members on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 under the rain, staged a peaceful protest, which started from the General Hospital through the Cross River State House of Assembly Complex and the Presidential Lodge.
Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the family has allegedly paid some undisclosed sum of money on as ransom after much bargaining with the kidnappers and are demanding for more before they could secure her release.
A family source said they are worried that after collecting the ransom, the hoodlums switched off their mobile phones and stopped further communication with the family members.
Expressing further worry nobody has been able to communicate with Ekanem for about days out of 28 days in captivity, the Nigerian Medical Association after its emergency meeting held in Calabar demanded immediate release of erudite Professor of Neurology, Prof. Ekanem Philip Ephraim, either death or alive and that in any eventuality of her not being alive anymore, the State Government must accord her a befitting burial.
In a statement signed by Dr. Felix Archibong and Dr. Amaku Etim as state chairman, and secretary respectively, NMA further demanded “in strong terms that the State Government as a matter of urgency, issues a strong rejoinder debunking the fake news circulating the media space about the demise of our member. In furtherance of the aforementioned, the State Government must institute a compensation of not less than 100million to the deceased family.
“Request that the “hazy” nature of the Anti- kidnapping Bill be fully established vis-à-vis, passage into law and the Governor’s assent. Maintain that in any case of kidnapping involving our members the ransom will be paid by the State Government.”
The NMA called on Senator Bassey Edet Otu to give clarification surrounding the existence of “Operation Akpakwu” and its functionality as well as bring those involved in this dastardly act of kidnapping of her members to book and make them face the full wrath of the law with visible evidences.
They also called on well-spirited Cross Riverians, civil society groups and professional bodies within and outside the state to join hands in fighting this menace that has bedeviled the peace loving citizens of Cross River state.
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