Abductors of doctor demand N50m ransom

Abductors of former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), have demanded for a ransom of N50 million before releasing the man.

Eugene Okepere was kidnapped on his way to church on Sunday morning.

A close family source told journalists yesterday that the abductors contacted the family on Sunday night, where they made their demands and thereafter switched off their lines without giving room for any negotiation.

Meanwhile, activities in government hospitals across the state remained skeletal yesterday owing to the directive from the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to restrict their services to only emergency cases and those already on admission before Sunday.

Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, the association chairman, said they had to still continue to render skeletal services because of the presence of the old politician, Anthony Enahoro, who is still recuperating at UBTH.

"Ordinarily, we are to stop work totally, but we have a special guest in one of our hospitals, Anthony Enahoro, so we are attending to people already with us because of him, and also emergency cases. The leadership of the NMA will meet to take a critical position on this development where medical workers are now targets of kidnappers," he said.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), UBTH chapter, was meeting to review the situation and may embark on total strike action to call for the unconditional release of the former CMD who is believed to have improved on the infrastructural and personnel status of the teaching hospital.

Police sources confirmed the latest development on the demands of the suspected kidnappers, but refused to disclose what they were doing.

The state police spokesperson, Peter Ogboi, was said to be at a meeting when checked at his office yesterday.

SOURCE:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5640037-146/abductors_of_doctor_demand_n50m_ransom.csp