Abducted UPTH Doctor Regains Freedom

The abducted doctor of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Dr Alex Akani has now regained his freedom.
The Tide gathered that Dr Akani, who was abducted by unidentified gunmen on his way home, last Sunday regained his freedom yesterday from the hands of his abductors.
The Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, UPTH chapter, Dr Onotai Lucky confirmed the release to The Tide.
However, it is not clear whether a ransom was paid to secure the release of the medical doctor.
It would be recalled that the medical consultants at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital had embarked on an indefinite strike since Tuesday, July 4, 2017 to press for the release of their abducted colleague, Dr Alex Akani.
In an interview with journalists yesterday on the abduction of Dr Akani, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Medical and Dental Consultants Association, Rivers State chapter, Dr Chukwuemeka Agi said doctors in the State were now targeted for kidnapping.
His words: “This strike is an indefinite one. We are reappraising our situation day by day and as we speak with you, it is important that we reiterate that this is the second time Dr Alex Akani, a family physician in this hospital is being kidnapped.
It is also to inform members of the public that about two months ago, a consultant family physician was killed in the process of being kidnapped in Rivers State.
And as we speak, there is a doctor who has been in custody of kidnappers for the past 60 days, so you will see a trend here that we unfortunately have been forced to bear and so this is a cry for help by doctors in Rivers State, this is a cry for help, especially by doctors in UPTH,” Agi added.
He hinted further that the striking doctors would only attend to emergency cases.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the State has lamented what it termed targeted abduction of medical doctors in Rivers State.
The Public Relations Officer of NMA in the State, Dr Ohake Justice at a press conference lamented that more than five doctors had been abducted in the last three months.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana