Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have marched to the Cross River house of assembly on a peaceful protest over the abduction of Ekanem Ephraim.
TheCable had reported that Ephraim, a medical doctor with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), was abducted by gunmen at her residence.
Felix Archibong, chairman of the NMA in Cross River, had said the kidnappers disguised as patients to gain access to the doctor’s residence.
He said Ephraim was attending to them when they brought out weapons and whisked her away.
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The doctors, who came out in their numbers on Wednesday, held placards with inscriptions such as “Set Cross River Free From The Stranglehold of Kidnappers” and “Make Cross River Safe Again”.
Speaking at the assembly complex, Archibong said the predicament of doctors in the state has got to the point where they are afraid of going about their daily activities.
He said doctors in the state now watch their backs at all times for fear of being abducted.
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“We are tired of coming out to protest every time that our member is kidnapped and after it is sorted out, another doctor is targeted and picked,” NAN quoted Archibong as saying.
“We have given the state government enough time; we have been patient and today is the 19th day and our member is still in the kidnappers’ den.
“Is it a crime that doctors decided to serve in Cross River? Do they want us to leave the state?
“In the last few years, doctors have been targets of kidnappers and we need something drastic to be done.”
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Responding, Elvert Ayambem, the house speaker, appealed for calm from the doctors.
“I am speaking as the head of the legislature in the state, let us hear from the governor who is the head of the executive because there is a limit to what I can do from my position,” he said.
On July 16, doctors in the state began an indefinite strike over the abduction of the doctor.
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