Patients undergoing treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) are in for a tough time as doctors have stopped working, until the Chief Medical Director, who was kidnapped on Tuesday, is released. The abduction of the Director, Michael Ibadin, came on the heels of a directive by the Oba of Benin to palace diviners to collaborate with the state government in the fight against kidnapping for ransom in the state.

NEXT gathered that Dr. Ibadin was kidnapped in the early hours of yesterday in front of his residence at the Isiohor axis of Benin City, as he was about to leave for work. According to reports, his abductors, who came in a Volkswagen Audi 80 saloon car, intercepted the official vehicle of the CMD, and ordered his police orderly to open the door.The police orderly’s hesitation allegedly prompted the abductors to use the butt of their guns to break the side glass of the official car and forcefully open the doors. They then dragged out the CMD before taking him and his driver away. At the time of going to press, the abductors were yet to make any contact, either with their victims’ families or with the officials of the teaching hospital.

Great embarrassment

Following the kidnap, a staff of the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the authorities of the health institution have decided that all activities should stop until the unconditional release of their CMD is effected. “I will advise relatives of patients in the hospital for their interest to come and discharge them as the hospital would close its door to any would-be patients,” he announced, just as he declared patients that are already in the hospital would not be attended to.

A report said one of the doctors at the hospital allegedly assaulted the husband of a pregnant woman waiting to be delivered of her baby, after the man pleaded with the doctor to attend to his wife. In their attempt to report the fracas that ensued over the assault, several journalists were manhandled by both doctors and administrative workers in the ward.

The public relations office of the state police command could not be reached for comment, but a police source said the authorities were doing their best to see how they can track the kidnappers, as the incident was a great embarrassment to them.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5551090-147/gunmen_kidnap_medical_director__.csp

Na wa oh

why is there a war against doctors i wonder.

and what's nigeria's own? Why do nigerians always like to carry things on their heads as if na only them dey this world.

^^^ So many why and yet few answers

Criminal activities will not go away soon from Edo state,the systems are so corrupt,the bad guys have protections from the so-called big duds in the society.The Police cannot do much to stop these evil because every party benefits from the situation,they also do have enough intelligence gathering mechanism/technology,so better days are not in sight

UBTH's CMD Freed

THE Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Professor Emmanuel Ibadin, who was abducted by suspected kidnappers last Monday, regained his freedom yesterday evening.

Consequently, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in the state has directed its members to resume work immediately after its chairman, Dr Osahon Enabulele who had earlier called out its members on a protest strike, confirmed the release of the CMD.

Vanguard learnt that Dr Ibadin was released at about 6:30pm yesterday and was hale and hearty when his captives released him to his family. Dr Enabulele who told Vanguard that he personally met with the CMD, stated that "he is very sound and happy to be home with his family

http://allafrica.com/stories/201004081100.html

Fantastic news. A relief for him, his family and the state at large because a general doctors strike would have dealt a serious blow to everyone.
I wonder if the kidnappers released him on "compassionate grounds" after the threatened strike or ransom was paid.