NMA declares indefinite strike in Cross River over abduction of doctors

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River chapter, has declared an indefinite strike to protest the abduction of its members in the state. 

The medical body announced the development on Monday in a communiqué signed by Felix Archibong and Amaku Asuquo, Cross River NMA chairman and secretary, respectively, after an emergency meeting in Calabar.

Over the weekend, the NMA in the state had announced the abduction of two of its members. 

According to the communiqué, the medical doctors were kidnapped on the Ekomita-Uyanga axis of the Calabar Ikom highway.

The NMA said the declaration of the strike is to draw the government’s attention on ensuring the safe rescue of the medical doctors.

“Members observed the deplorable state of the road, especially from Okomita to Uyanga, all in Akamkpa local government area. This deplorable state of the road causes vehicular movement around that area to proceed at minimal speed, hence providing an advantage to these criminal elements to perpetuate their evil intentions,” the communique reads.

“NMA in Cross River has embarked on an indefinite strike from Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in solidarity with her members still in the hands of their abductors.

“The government should activate all necessary instruments at its disposal to ensure the timely and unconditional release of our members in the hands of their abductors.

“The state government should as a matter of urgency provide security checkpoints and patrol vehicles at vulnerable areas of the road.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, Christian Ita, special adviser on media and publicity to Ben Ayade, the state governor, described the strike as “unfortunate, regrettable and ill-advised”.

Ita said the response of the government since the abduction of the medical doctors “has been strong, robust and total”.

“While the Cross River government is reluctant to impute political undertone to the actions of the NMA, suffice to state that it had, immediately after the incident, launched a manhunt,” the statement reads. 

“The government is using all the security agencies, in an effort to intercept the kidnappers and rescue the victims.”