Doctors to remove NMA stickers from cars

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ekiti State has ordered doctors to remove the union’s stickers from their cars.

The measure, according to the NMA Chairman, Dr. John Akinbote, was to prevent kidnappers from easily identifying the doctors, who are now their major targets.

Apart from removing “Doctor on Duty Stickers”, Dr. Akinbote also advised medical practitioners to avoid keeping late nights, avoid nightclubs and live low profile lives.

Addressing a briefing in Ado Ekiti, the state capital yesterday, he called for the harmonisation of anti-kidnapping laws in the country so that no state would be a haven for kidnappers.

The NMA chair condemned the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their failure to protect doctors and the public.

He appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose, Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure a “coordinated and proactive security strategy in the state”.

“We are disturbed and grossly disappointed by the level of proactive and investigative measures put in place so far by Commissioner of Police Joshua Ibine and DSS Director Duke Fubara.


“The recent incessant threat messages to our members followed the serial cases of abductions involving a nurse, Margaret Akadenika, Dr. Patrick Adegun, his wife, Kikelomo and recently Dr. Femi Omisore of OAU, Ile Ife in various parts of the state.

“It is appalling that several security meetings have yielded little or no result as medical and health workers, lecturers and other citizens still move about in fear.

“We are also advising them to stop moving around at night because these people have the erroneous impression that we receive higher pay and are more profitable targets.

“They have to remove anything that could suggest that they are members of this association since we are the target.

“We have given the names and numbers of those who received kidnap threats to the police and the SSS, but nothing had been done in this regard.

The NMA boss bemoaned the kidnappers’ refusal to contact Mrs. Aladenika’s family.