The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Edo State Branch, has vowed to sustain its ongoing withdrawal of medical services over what it described as the worsening insecurity in the state, insisting that its abducted member must be rescued unhurt before doctors return to work.
The association said the strike action would continue indefinitely until the doctor, who was kidnapped in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, is safely released.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the Chairman of Edo NMA, Dr. Eustace Oseghale, and the State Secretary, Dr. Iluobe Inegbenosun, condemned the prevailing security situation and called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently overhaul the state’s security architecture.
According to the association, the proposed restructuring should prioritise the integration of local vigilante groups into formal security arrangements, backed by strict monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to effectively tackle the rising wave of insecurity across the state.
Dr. Oseghale said the decision to extend the service withdrawal was taken after extensive consultations with key stakeholders, stressing that the safety of healthcare workers and the general public must not be compromised.
“We insist that the security of lives and property is paramount and should not be taken lightly. Our member who was abducted in Auchi must be released unhurt. Until then, we will continue the withdrawal of our services,” he said.
He added that the continued strike was necessary not only to secure the release of the kidnapped doctor but also to draw attention to the broader security challenges confronting Edo State.
The NMA chairman also expressed concern over what he described as the intimidation of doctors in the state, warning that such actions could further escalate the dispute.
The association urged the Edo State Government to demonstrate, as a matter of urgency, a clear commitment to safeguarding lives and property, noting that the crisis could deepen if decisive action is not taken.
It further warned that private medical practitioners in the state may join the strike if there is no speedy resolution to the matter, a development that could significantly worsen access to healthcare services in Edo State.
