By Hope James
The Anambra State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to shutdown hospitals in the state if their colleague who was kidnapped is not released, Edum News reports.
They made this demand at an emergency general meeting, where a 48 hour ultimatum was issued for the release of Steven Ezeh or they withdraw their services across the state.
The private medical practitioner, Dr Steven Ezeh, was abducted at his residence in Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala in Ihiala local government area on Aug 15.
The kidnappers initially demanded N40 million ransom, but later reduced it to N30 millions on Sunday.
A communique signed by Dr Princeston Okam and Dr Obiageli Ifeanyi, chairman and secretary respectively, condemned the rising spate of kidnapping and insecurity in the state and called on the government and security agencies to arrest the situation
The communique reads, “Our colleague, Dr Stephen Ezeh, was kidnapped in front of his residence at Umunnamehi Village Ihiala on Thursday, Aug 15, 2024.
“Dr Eze is a private medical practitioner and Managing Director of Vera Clinic, Ihiala.
“A 48 hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra State government to secure the immediate release of Dr Ezeh
“If, at the expiration of the above timeline and our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA-Anambra will down tools until he is released.
“Another emergency meeting will be convened within the next 48 hours to review the progress made so far”.
