The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has embarked on a seven-day nationwide warning strike, over the abduction of their colleague, Ganiyat Popoola.
Popoola, a registrar in the department of ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew.
The victims were abducted at the senior staff quarters of the eye centre located around the Mando area of Kaduna State.
While her husband was released in March this year after discussions with the abductors, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Dele Abdullahi, NARD president, said the decision to embark on a strike was reached during the emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting on Sunday.
“The strike is commencing by midnight today. It’s for seven days, it’s a warning strike, and it’s total,” he said.
“During the strike, there will be no concessions, and there will be no emergency care.”
Last month, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to government over Popoola’s abduction.
Resident doctors are medical school graduates training as specialists. They dominate emergency wards in Nigerian hospitals and are critical to frontline healthcare.
