Medical doctor kidnapped in Abakaliki, guard killed

A Nigerian medical doctor in the eastern Nigeria state of Ebonyi has been kidnapped.

Police said Dr Pius Mauyike, a consultant paediatrician at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, by gunmen, was abducted near his private clinic in the town.

Mr Sylvester Igbo, the state police command’s Public Relations Officer, said Mauyike, who is the owner of St. Marks Specialist Clinic, Abakaliki, was abducted with his vehicle, a black BMW, by two men armed with AK-47 rifles.

“His gate-man, who was simply identified as Peter, was shot dead as five shells of bullets were picked at the scene of the incident. The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at a mortuary, and the command has intensified efforts to trace the perpetrators of the dastardly act,’’ he said.

A doctor at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity, decried the spate of attacks on the hospitals’ doctors in recent times, noting that it was worrisome.

“Early this year, one of our doctors was nearly blinded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police for attending to his sick wife. Last week, another doctor was brutalised by relatives of a patient that died in the hospital over alleged complicity that turned out to be false.

“Efforts should be made by relevant authorities to ensure the safety of doctors to enable them to concentrate on discharging their duties,’’ he said.