Fear is gripping members of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Cross River State over the continued stay of a senior member of the body in kidnappers’ den.
Professor Ekanem Ephraim who was kidnapped July 13 this year around the Atimbo axis of Calabar Municipality by unknown gunmen has remained in the kidnappers’ den in the past four months.
Her whereabouts have remained unknown leaving many to speculate that she must have been killed and buried.
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NBA seems unsettled over the inability of the state government to rescue the lead consultant of Neurology, University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar.
Early in September 2023, Governor Bassey Otu announced that his government has acquired a technology to detect kidnappers and such
However, two days ago, Patrick Egaga, a professor and director of SERVICOM, was kidnapped in his house inside the UNICAL staff quarters.
In an interview with journalists in Calabar, the NBA Chairman in the state, Dr Felix Archibong bemoaned Ephraim’s prolonged stay in captivity.
He regretted that security agencies and the state government have not been able to secure her release after several promises made to that effect.
He noted that the state has become inhabitable due to the activities of kidnappers as more persons have also been abducted after Ephraim’s abduction.
“This is the situation in the state and it is regrettable that our colleague is still in captivity after 116 days.
“We are trying so hard not to make industrial action another alternative to getting the government and security agencies to keep to their promises,” he stated.
The industrial action lasted for about 40 days resulting in healthcare crises in the state before it was called off.
Archibong said they had to call off the strike following continual pleas by the government, who assured that they would rescue the professor.
