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…A neurologist’s fatal experience with kidnappers
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
In a shocking and tragic turn of events, Nigeria’s secret police, the DSS, has finally confirmed the arrest of suspects alleged to have kidnapped Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, a gynecologist and professor with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Her name, her family, and her patients may be unknown to many, particularly those who have not crossed paths with her but her story is a stark reminder of the darkest depths of human cruelty.
In the shadows of a society that prides itself on progress and civilization, a sinister reality lurks, where the vulnerable are preyed upon, and the innocent are silenced.
Professor Ephraim, the then lead consultant of neurology at the University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was abducted on July 13, 2023 around the Atimbo axis of Calabar municipality by unknown gunmen and taken into captivity.
Her abduction reportedly took place at her private clinic in Calabar by kidnappers who posed as relations to a patient in dire need of medical attention.
The incident took place at a time when kidnappers had a field day in Cross River State particularly Calabar and it’s environs.
It shook the medical community in the state and the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) embarked on an industrial action to protest against the rising spate of “doctor-targeted kidnappings” in the state.
As at the time of her abduction, doctors in Cross River State under the NMA disclosed that 14 of their members had been kidnapped within five years and invoked its resolution against “doctor targeted kidnapping” in the state.
The resolution was made by the association after an emergency general meeting held at the General Hospital Calabar on January 5, 2018. The release which was signed by Dr. Effiong Mkpanam stated that “for the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Medical Association will withdraw clinical services without any notice anytime a doctor is taken captive in the future.
“We have observed with dismay a dangerous trend in which the security and lives of the same doctor is being threatened by some disgruntled members of society.
“We cannot continue to save the lives of others while ours is not secured,” he said.
The NMA commenced an industrial action that lasted several weeks and occasioned a major crisis in the state’s healthcare sector.
The strike action later called off but in suspending the industrial action, the then state chairman said it followed a letter of appeal from Gov. Otu, advice of the national president of the association and for the sake of the suffering people of the state.
“This action has been carried out despite the fact that our member has not been released; we are appealing to security agents to step up”, Archibong said.
DSP Irene Ugbo, police public relations officer, Cross River Command, at the time confirmed the incident. She noted that men of the force are on the trail of the kidnappers to know where the kidnapped victim was taken to but this assurance came to naught.
Nothing happened as regards the release of the abducted professor. Her possible demise became very apparent based on the harsh condition of the creeks where she may possibly have been taken to, her age and health condition.
Days became weeks, months and years and the whereabouts of the abducted professor remained unknown. Rumours became rife that she had passed on in the hands of her captors despite millions of naira allegedly paid by her family to secure her release.
However, after over two agonizing years, the picture became clearer last week when the DSS announced that they have arrested three suspects behind the abduction of Prof. Ekanem.
Officials of the DSS, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday, said the suspects—identified as 23-year-old gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40—were arrested on December 27, 2025 at a medical facility in the state while allegedly planning to kidnap another senior medical practitioner.
An official of the DSS, the source said, had been tracking the gang since July 2023, when Ephraim was abducted by armed men posing as patients at her private clinic.
“Our operatives, on December 27, arrested the leader of the gang and another suspect who kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, in 2023.
“The gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at a medical facility in Cross River State.
“The duo has confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family,” the DSS said.
Activist and ace journalist, Agba Jalingo, commenting on the arrest of the suspects on social media described two of them, Bassey Antiha and Patrick Essien Etim, as “die hard and unrepentant criminals who are not willing to leave crime.”
“These two alleged kidnappers of Prof Ephraim, I met them while I was incarcerated in Afokang Prison in Calabar for six months by former Governor Ben Ayade.
“Even while in jail, there were rumors amongst inmates that Bassey in particular was still facilitating kidnappings from jail and his cuts from ransoms were ferried to him in jail. It was a popular rumor amongst inmates.
“In fact, usually when they played drought game, Patrick used to brag about their criminal activities outside with one of his friends in jail nicknamed “one minute” who has now been transferred to Ikom prison”, he said.
With the arrest of the alleged suspects, more details of the tragic incident will unravel as the days go by as the suspects face justice in court.
However, news of the arrest of Philip-Ephraim’s kidnappers brings some closure to her loved ones, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by medical professionals in Nigeria.
Despite sacrifices made to stay back in the country in spite of lucrative offers abroad, medical professionals also bear the risk of insecurity.
It also highlights the depths humans can go to make quick money irrespective of its cost to humanity as a whole.
The professor’s tragic experience highlights the need for increased security measures to protect citizens, particularly those in the medical field who are becoming soft targets for men of the underworld
