Under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Anambra Branch, medical professionals in Anambra State have demanded the unconditional and immediate release of their member, Dr. Steven Ezeh, who was abducted by as-yet-unidentified individuals.
On Monday, NMA called an emergency general meeting and threatened to stop providing services throughout the state if Ezeh wasn’t released within 48 hours.
On August 15, Ezeh, an Ihiala private practitioner, was kidnapped from his home in Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Princeton Okam, and secretary, Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the NMA denounced the growing number of kidnappings and incidents of insecurity in the state. It demanded that the security services and the government take action to stop the situation.
As stated by medical professionals: “Our colleague, Dr Stephen Ezeh, was kidnapped in front of his residence at Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala, on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Dr Stephen Eze is a private practitioner and Managing Director of Vera Clinic Ihiala.
“The kidnappers have requested 40 million ransom at first and subsequently 30 millions in the last 24 hours. 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, our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA-Anambra will down tools until our member is released. An emergency meeting will be convened within the next 48 hours to review the progress made so far.”
