Doctors in the Edo North Senatorial District have voiced their outrage over the kidnapping of two of their peers and the later murder of one by assailants believed to be kidnappers.
Remember that the men known as Abu Ibrahim, a resident staff member at the Edo University Teaching Hospital in Iyamho, near Auchi, and his younger sibling, Abu Tahir, were taken hostage on January 1, 2026.
The brothers were kidnapped at the entrance of their home on City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, in the Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, around 7:30 pm when work finished.
The abductors, after requesting a ransom of N200 million, ultimately killed Abu Tahir, a recent medical graduate from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
The assailants, despite the murder, continue to keep the deceased’s older sibling hostage.
They are now asking for a ransom of N100 million for his release.
The physicians in the Edo North senatorial district, under the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), protested throughout the Auchi community and surrounding areas, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Abu.
Dr. Ifijeh Patrick, the NMA chairman in the region, stated that the protest aimed to highlight the increasing danger to their lives and professional responsibilities to governments, security agencies, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders.
Patrick, advocating for swift and firm measures to address kidnapping and violent crimes in the region, expressed that the death of a colleague has left many of them and others distressed and unsure about their safety.
He said, “We save lives every day, yet our own lives are constantly under threat. We are no longer safe going to work or returning home. This must stop.
“Our demands are simple: secure the release of the kidnapped doctor, stop the killings, and make Edo North safe for everyone,” he appealed.
Protesting doctors at the Palace of the Otaru of Auchi, the Edo University Teaching Hospital, Edo University, Iyamho, and the Police Area Command in Auchi expressed concern about the worsening security situation.
The NMA chairman urged authorities to use their influence to support efforts to restore peace and security in the area.
He warned that if their demands were not met, doctors across the state would take action.
