By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
Cross River Government has assured the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the State of the safe return of Prof. Ekanem Philip Ephraim.
NMA led by its State Chairman, Dr. Felix Archibong, Tuesday 1 of August 2023 defied the heavy rain and marched to the Government House. Prof. Ekanem has spent 19 days in captivity.
Hon. Peter Odey, deputy governor while addressing the bitter doctors was empathic to their plight.
He revealed that the kidnapped doctor also attended to his mother.
“A lot has been done. I can assure you that both the security and the government are not sleeping.
“You may not be aware but three days ago, we carried out a search somewhere in Akpabuyo where we believed that the doctor was being kept, unfortunately, she wasn’t there.
“It is not everytime we have to come to the press because it will make the job difficult for us.
“The doctor is also my mom’s doctor, she is someone I know personally and as a Cross Riverian, we will do everything we can within our power to ensure she’s back and safe too.
“We are not resting on our part, we will continue to do our best to ensure that she is released.”
The deputy governor addressed the angry doctors after they marched to the government house to express their dissatisfaction.
Earlier, the State NMA Chairman, Dr. Felix Archibong during his address said he now lives in fear as to who will be next after the release of Prof. Ekanem as he can’t even sleep with both eyes closed. He begged that the security should plunge into action.
According to him “We are not safe. We are afraid. Our question is what next, after this woman, who will be the next, we have had a serial kidnap of doctors.
“What is our offense in Cross River State, is it a crime for doctors to stay back and not travel out to take care of sick Cross Riverians, what have we done, the security cannot protect us, what should we do.”