Tag: #Vivien Otu

  • Nigeria Medical Association Takes Protest To House Of Assembly, Demands Immediate Release Of Kidnapped Colleague

    Nigeria Medical Association Takes Protest To House Of Assembly, Demands Immediate Release Of Kidnapped Colleague

    By Abara Etop

    The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, has maintained that the State Anti Kidnapping bill has since been signed into law by the Governor, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben. Ayade.

    Williams gave the hint, when members of the Nigeria Medical Association NMA, undertook a peaceful protest to the Complex and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of their colleague, Dr. Vivien Otu, who was Kidnapped since 28th of August, 2020, in Calabar.

    The Speaker, who was in company of the Chairman House Committee on Heath, Rt. Hon. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, reiterated the existence of the law, showing proof of a Gazetted copy, promising to liase with other agencies to ensure that Kidnappers are punish accordingly.

    Earlier, the state Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association NMA Calabar branch, Dr. Innocent Abang, said they were in the Assembly to register their displeasure on, if there is an existing Anti Kidnapping law, yet, Kidnappers are not punish, stressing that since the Kidnapped of their colleague, Dr Vivien Otu, government has not made any statement, calling on security Agencies to ensure her release.

    The Association noted that with the Kidnapped of Dr. Vivien, bring to total number of Cross Rivarians Kidnapped including Doctors, to Sixteen persons and the law is yet to apprehend and presicute.any Kidnapper.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association NMA, Women wing, Dr. Bassey Nakanda, said the wing demand the immediate release of their colleague within twelve hours, adding that Dr. Vivien is the current Chairman elect of the wing.

  • Doctor Otu’s kidnap: Medical Women Association solicit help from Buhari, Minister of Women Affairs

    Doctor Otu’s kidnap: Medical Women Association solicit help from Buhari, Minister of Women Affairs

    By George Odok Jr.

    The Medical Women Association of Nigeria in Cross River has appealed to the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen to come to their aide in ensuring the immediate release of Dr Vivien Otu from captivity.

    The Association also called on the Wife of the Governor of Cross River, Dr Linda Ayade, the Director General of Women Development Centre, Mrs Mary Ekpere Eta to also intervene.

    The Association made the call on Sunday in Calabar in a release signed by its President and Secretary, Dr Bassey Nakanda and Dr Angella Imoke.

    The release stated that the kidnapp of Dr Otu, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health on Aug. 28, 2020 in Calabar, was condemnable.

    The Association condemns in strong terms the nefarious act against her members, which they said has become a norm over the years.

    They said in the release that Otu was the 16th doctor/dependents abducted within the last few years in Cross River, thereby expressing dissatisfaction that the real effect of kidnapping are not what any human should be subjected to.

    “It is even worst when the victim is a woman and it affects the entire populace. Healthcare delivery is affected as all doctors feel threatened, discouraged and demoralised.

    “As women and mothers, we hereby call on the state government, security agencies and relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in bringing to an end this incessant occurrence among medical doctors and other citizens of the state and to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Otu.

    “We also cry out to the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of Cross River Governor, Dr Linda Ayade, Minister of Women Affairs, Director General of Women Development Centre and others to rise up and defend womanhood by employing their positions to ensure speedy and unconditional release of Dr Otu.

    “We are also calling on all Civil Society Organisations, especially the International Federation of Female Lawyers, the National Association of Women Journalists and Female Society Organisations to loud their voices to the cry for the release of Dr Otu,” the release stated.

    The Medical Women also joined their voices with the Nigerian Medical Association in the state to demand for the accent to the anti-kidnapping bill which was passed by the Cross River House of Assembly, by the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.