The Cross River State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, on Friday disclosed that Governor Ben Ayade had approved a 24-hour security coverage for medical doctors and other professionals in the state in order to check kidnapping.
Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state had recently gone on strike to protest against the kidnapping of two of their colleagues, Dr. Usang Ekanem and Dr. Emem Udoh, within the space of one week.
However, following a series of meeting with doctors on how to stop kidnapping of doctors, Ayade, according to Ngagi, gave an approval for increased security at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and other public health institutions in Calabar and beyond.
Ngaji said, “The governor had a meeting with medical doctors and I also did the same. First, we had to make them understand that it was not as if doctors were being targeted for kidnapping as it was perceived.
“We have some recent cases of doctors being kidnapped. One was the doctor in Akamkpa while the other was the lady who was released after one day. The lady was returning from duty at about 1.30am when she was abducted.
“That same night that she was kidnapped, the security agencies met, took a decision and swung into action. That same night, about 11 persons were arrested for various criminal offences, although not within the Calabar metropolis. We have discovered that we have made the town too hot for them that they have relocated to neighbouring communities.
“What we have done, especially for the doctors, and we intend to do for all corporate organisations, is that the governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has approved a 24-hour security services for doctors in the teaching hospital and other hospitals.”
He noted that the state security outfit, Homeland Security, now had the responsibility of going to pick up doctors who are on night duty from their residences.
While noting that the service also covers other professionals, who are on night duty, Ngaji stressed that emphasis would be on those residing in vulnerable areas.
“We now have the responsibility of going out to pick up doctors, especially the ones on duty, no matter how late. We would pay special attention to doctors who live in vulnerable areas.
“So, if a doctor is on duty and has the challenge of leaving where he or she is, the designated security men will go and pick up the doctor and also take him/her back home safely.
“This is a novel idea that we have just introduced and I am sure it is the first of its kind in the country. We are not doing it for doctors alone, other professionals will benefit from it. The Homeland Security personnel that are stationed all over the metropolis will take charge of that,” he said.
The State Security Adviser noted that Homeland Security outfit had been extended to Ikom to cover Ogoja, Obudu and Etung, adding that the move was to restore the confidence of businessmen in the state.
