15th December, 2022
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Kidnappers of Dr. Bagshaw Steven, a senior medical doctor with University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital ( UPTH) have contacted his wife to ask for an undisclosed sum of money as ransom to set him free, it has been gathered.
Steven, a Senior Registrar in the Plastic Surgery Department of UPTH was abducted at the gate of his residence, close to GTB Rumuokoro on his way back from work on Saturday Night, 11th December around 9.45p.m.
While confirming the incident in an online security alert post, the Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association,(NMA) Rivers State branch, Dr. Hope Owhondaa Avundaa said:”Good morning Members of NMA Congress, we regret to inform the house of the sad incident of Kidnap of our colleague, Dr. Bagshaw, Steven, Senior Registrar with Rivers State Government, in Plastic Surgery Department undergoing Posting in UPTH.”
He said the kidnap incident was reported to have occurred at the gate of his residence, close to GTB Rumuokoro on his way back from work on Saturday Night, 11th December by 9.45p.m.
The NMA secretary said the Association has reached out to security agencies in the state, including the State Director DSS, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon and ACP Operations.
He, however, revealed that abductors of Dr. Steven have already contacted the wife of the victim to make a ransom demand.
He however did not state amount they ask for to release the victim.
“We are also liaising and supporting the wife as she interfaces with the kidnappers as family has been contacted”.
The NMA Secretary also announced that the association is mobilizing and preparing to implement its anti-kidnap protocol that will lead to total shutdown of all medical facilities in the State in protest against the abduction of a colleague and member.
But he also encouraged members of the association to be safety conscious and take appropriate security measures within this period.
At the time of filing this report the Rivers State Police Command has not reacted to the kidnap incident.