The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened to go on strike if their abducted colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, is not released by August 26.

The announcement was made by NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. Her husband was released in March, but Dr. Ganiyat and her nephew are still being held captive.

Dr. Abdullahi said, “Following notification of the incident, the association notified all security agencies through official written communication, requesting immediate action towards the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.”

NARD has also informed the Nigerian Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, and several other government officials, including the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“For a country where we have placed a high value on healthcare providers and the need for them to remain within the country, it is imperative that the security of these healthcare providers is guaranteed at all times,” Abdullahi added.

Despite several letters sent to security agencies and government officials, the association has seen no significant action. “We’ve been engaging, but we’ve not actually had any opportunity to have any personal engagement with the security agencies and the state or federal government regarding this sad situation,” Abdullahi said.

NARD plans to organize a national press conference and a protest march in all tertiary hospitals across Nigeria to demand Dr. Ganiyat’s release. “NARD has resolved to embark on industrial action on August 26 if Dr. Popoola is not freed by then,” Abdullahi stated.

The association thanked those who have tried to help but urged the government to take concrete steps to rescue Dr. Ganiyat. “It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed,” Abdullahi concluded.