14th July, 2023
A medical doctor with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Prof. Ekanem Ephraim, was abducted from her residence on Thursday by gunmen who disguised as patients.
The kidnappers disguised as patients, and as Ephraim was giving them the audience, they brought out weapons and whisked her away at about 7.15 p.m., the Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River, Dr Felix Archibong, said.
“We are sure that they are kidnappers because they have reached out to the family, demanding ransom.
“Although the matter had been reported at a police, we want the good people of Cross River, especially the governor, to help us by ensuring that our abducted member is rescued and returned to her loved ones unconditionally,” he said while appealing for urgent action to rescue the abducted doctor.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cross River Command, DSP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident.
Ugbo said that men of the force were already on the trail of the kidnappers to know where the victim was taken to.
“Let us be positive and prayerful for the police to get to the root of the matter and rescue her from her assailants,” she said.
Medical practitioners have, of recent, been targets of kidnappers in the state, resulting in NMA embarking on industrial actions in some occasions to get their members released.
(NAN)