Resident Doctors begin seven-day warning strike over colleague’s abduction

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a seven-day warning strike in response to the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for eight months.

This decision was announced by NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, during an emergency virtual meeting of the National Executive Council on Sunday.

The strike, which began at midnight on Monday, August 26, 2024, is a warning but will be total in its effect.

“The strike is total, and there will be no concessions or emergency care during this period.

“All centres, both federal and state, should ensure full compliance, even as proper handover of patients to consultants should be done.

“Any centre found to have defaulted on the decision of NARD would be fined heavily and denied participation in the forthcoming NARD AGM.”

A registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Popoola, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew.

Her husband was released in March, while Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

Members of NARD had earlier protested in all tertiary hospitals across the nation to demand Popoola’s release.