The Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has expressed concern over the rising insecurity in the state following the abduction of three nurses at a primary healthcare centre in Akure by suspected hoodlums last week.
The incident occurred at the Comprehensive Health Centre in the Oke Ijebu area of Akure in the early hours of Saturday, when the nurses were reportedly robbed and abducted by the assailants.
The victims were later abandoned in a bush along the Ondo–Akure Expressway after the attackers allegedly transferred money from their bank accounts. They were subsequently rescued by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.
In a statement on Tuesday, the chairman of the Ondo State NMA, Dr Alonge Olumuyiwa, said the current security situation in the state requires urgent attention from the government and other stakeholders.
According to the statement, the association condemned the attack on health workers whose primary responsibility is to save lives but are increasingly becoming targets of criminals.
“The Nigerian Medical Association, Ondo State branch, expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the recent abduction of three health workers at Oke Ijebu Primary Health Care Centre in the state. It was, however, a relief to note that they have since been released. Nonetheless, this incident represents a troubling development in the security challenges facing the state and calls for deeper reflection and proactive action.”
“As an association, we are gravely disturbed that those who dedicate their lives to saving others are now becoming targets of violence and insecurity. This incident not only endangers the lives of our colleagues but also threatens access to healthcare for the communities they serve,” the statement read.
The association also linked the incident to what it described as growing security lapses across the state. “In the last few months, attacks and kidnappings in Akoko, Uso, Ilu Abo, and along Oda Road in Akure, among other areas, are clear indications of these lapses. What we used to hear about in the news as frequent occurrences in some northern states is fast becoming a regular development in our Sunshine State,” it added.
The NMA therefore called on the Ondo State Government and security agencies to immediately strengthen security around health institutions across the state.
It urged that the Amotekun Corps and the police be adequately funded and motivated to maintain peace and security in the state.
The association also recommended the constitution of a stakeholders’ committee comprising security experts and other relevant bodies to develop an implementable security master plan for the state.
Additionally, the group called for the release of an intervention fund to address identified security gaps in health facilities across both urban and rural areas. “There is also an urgent need for health facility managers to create a platform for engaging health workers on security matters in order to reduce tension in health facilities,” the association said.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to the health and well-being of residents of Ondo State but warned that health workers cannot continue to operate under conditions of fear and insecurity. “We urge the government to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves,” the statement added.
