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Anambra Doctors End Strike After Kidnapped Colleague’s Release
Medical doctors in Anambra State have suspended the indefinite strike they embarked on after just three days of industrial action.
The strike was initially declared by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), following the abduction of one of their colleagues, Dr. Steven Ezeh, a private practitioner and the Chief Medical Director of Vera Clinic in Ihiala.
Dr. Ezeh was kidnapped from his residence in Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala Local Government Area, on August 15.
The NMA’s decision to declare the strike was not spontaneous. After the abduction, the association held an emergency meeting on Monday, a day after the incident, where they issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state government for Dr. Ezeh’s release.
According to the NMA, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N40 million, which was later reduced to N30 million within a 24-hour period. The association made it clear that failure to secure the release of Dr. Ezeh within the given timeline would result in all doctors in Anambra State withdrawing their services from both public and private hospitals.
As the deadline passed without any resolution, the NMA followed through on their threat. On Thursday, they directed all doctors to halt clinical services immediately, leading to a full-scale strike across the state.
The sudden withdrawal of medical services caused widespread suffering, particularly for patients in need of urgent care. A trader, Mrs. Onyekachi Ugwueze, recounted how she took her mother to Regina Caeli Hospital for treatment on Friday, only to find that no doctors were available.
When advised to seek treatment at a private hospital, she was shocked to discover that even private hospitals were affected by the strike. She described Friday as a “horrible day,” relying on self-medication for her mother’s care.
The impact of the strike was felt across the state, with many residents struggling to access medical services. Even planned programs, such as a free medical outreach at Regina Caeli Hospital, were cancelled.
A notice circulated at the hospital stated that a free eye outreach event had been postponed indefinitely due to the strike, causing further inconvenience to patients.
Relief came on Sunday when the NMA announced that Dr. Ezeh had been released, leading to the suspension of the strike.
In a joint statement, NMA Chairman Dr. Princeton Okam and Secretary Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi confirmed the end of the industrial action, stating, “The total and indefinite strike called by NMA Anambra Branch to protest the kidnap of our member, Dr. Steven Ezeh, is hereby called off following his release. Clinical services will resume at 8:00 AM on Sunday, August 25.”
The NMA leadership expressed gratitude to the people of Anambra for their patience during the difficult period and hoped that such an incident would not occur again.
They also commended their members for their solidarity and resilience in the face of the numerous challenges confronting the healthcare sector, especially insecurity.
The association urged its members to remain committed to providing healthcare services to the people of Anambra State.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time professionals in Anambra have gone on strike due to insecurity. Earlier in the year, lawyers under the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a similar protest over the abduction of one of their members.
In May, lawyers in the state boycotted courts for a day following the kidnapping of Mr. Chukwubuikem Azoro, Secretary of the NBA’s Idemili branch. Azoro was abducted by gunmen at Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, and the kidnappers demanded a ransom for his release, though the exact amount was not disclosed.
In response to Azoro’s abduction, the Idemili branch of the NBA took a stand by boycotting court appearances and pledging not to represent individuals charged with kidnapping or armed robbery.
The Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA branches in Anambra, Mr. I.C. Nsofor, explained that the statewide boycott was meant to support the local branch’s efforts in securing Azoro’s release.
These incidents highlight a growing trend of strikes by professionals in Anambra in response to rising insecurity, particularly the kidnapping of their members.
While Governor Charles Soludo was initially praised for his aggressive stance against criminal elements masquerading as freedom fighters, there is now increasing concern that those efforts have waned, leading to renewed insecurity in the state.
As professionals continue to voice their concerns about safety, there is hope that the government will take more proactive measures to address the insecurity that threatens not only the safety of citizens but also critical sectors such as healthcare and justice delivery in Anambra State.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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