The spate of destruction of lives and properties in the South-East geo-political zone has become a source of worry to governments and other stakeholders in the region, writes CHIDIEBUBE OKEOMA.

Before now, the South-East region had remained peaceful and accommodating to all. Things however began to fall apart since February this year, barely 4 months after the nationwide #EndSARS protest which turned violent. From attacks on FG formations like police commands and divisions, offices of INEC and courts to killing of clerics and traditional rulers, the level of insecurity in the region has become unimaginable.

More horrifying is the fact that travellers are ambushed on many occasions. While some lost their lives, others were injured. Residents of the zone, known for their economic independence, groaned as anguish became daily occurrence in their lives.

In Imo State, the onslaught began in February with attack on Obowo LGA Divisional Police HQ where some policemen were killed while suspects in custody were freed before the facility was set ablaze by ‘unknown’ gunmen. Subsequently on April 5, Owerri Correctional Centre and Imo State Police Command in Owerri were attacked. No fewer that 1,884 inmates were freed and the prison facility burnt while one of the inmates died during the stampede. At the command HQ same day, over 50 vehicles were burnt with all suspects freed. The attackers also hit a military checkpoint along Owerri-Onitsha Road and set ablaze 2 military men on duty.

Again, the hoodlums struck on 24 April 2021, attacking the country home of the state Governor, Hope Uzodinma. Some security operatives and the bandits lost their lives during a shootout. Since then, over 20 security formations have been attacked with many cops killed. The unending onslaught remains the biggest security threat since creation of the state.

Again, the Izombe, Isu, Omuma and Attah police divisional HQs were also attacked with many people losing their lives. There was a failed attempt on Imo Police Command HQ on June 6 which led to killing of Dragon, a suspected commander of the ESN and others. That was a major breakthrough in the fight by security operatives against the repeated attacks in the state. On May 24, two persons were killed at Ohaji/Egbema during a gun duel between security operatives and suspected bandits.

Statistics have it that over 180 people including soldiers, policemen and DSS operatives lost their lives in the last 6 to 7 months in the South-East. INEC offices in parts of the region were not left out as attacks continued unabated. May 29, INEC office in Njaba LGA was razed. Njaba and Orsu police divisional police HQs were also invaded July 30 and August 5 respectively with one policeman losing his life. The one that caused serious panic in the state was the killing of an Anglican priest on September 14 in Orsu LGA. The cleric was said to be protective of students who were sitting the WASSC Exam, to ensure they were not attacked.

On September 15, an Imo-based lawyer, Darlington, was killed in front of a supermarket in Orlu, one of the places known for violence since insecurity started in the zone. On August 16, four oil workers at Ohaji in Imo State were killed. On June 1, a German-based Nigerian, Oguchi Unachukwu was killed at the toll gate of Imo airport by suspected security operatives.

May 30, an Imo-based businessman, Noel Chigbu was killed by suspected military men in Owerri. Before then, precisely April 24, an undergraduate of Imo State University, Divine Nwaneri, was killed in front of Imo Government House. The following day, a motorist was also shot dead at almost the same point. Three persons were beheaded in Orlu community on August 2. On August 1, there was an attack at hotel in Orlu. On July 29 a motorist was beheaded at Okwudor in Njaba LGA.

In all these, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Micheal Abattam, observed that the state had witnessed a new but progressive approach of policing and security since the current Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, took over in the state. Abattam said the Imo Police Command was getting maximum support from the state government, and urged residents to avail security operatives with vital info to arrest security infractions in the state.

Similarly, Anambra State, which is set for a governorship election on November 6, has recorded killings of security operatives and civilians, including Dr Chike Akunyili, widower of a former Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, while many houses and vehicles had been set ablaze in the state by marauding gunmen. Four naval officers were said to have lost their lives to ‘unknown’ gunmen’s attack in the state.

However, spokesman for Anambra State Police Command, Ikenga Tochukwu, insisted the security outfit was winning the war against brazen and bizarre attacks on innocent residents of the state. He added, “We have been bold in confronting all security challenges and threats and indeed have recorded several successes in curbing these security challenges.

“The Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, on assumption of office oon8 October 2021 undertook a critical threat analysis and embark on painstaking intelligence gathering through strategic deployment of our intelligence assets, robust synergy with sister security agencies, organised vigilante groups and other stakeholders and we are daily evolving in our strategies to tackle security challenges as they emerge.”

In Enugu State, 24 persons were killed by gunmen, while four INEC offices and two police stations were set ablaze in the last six months. Ebonyi State is not left out as it has at a point experienced its share of insecurity in the South-East. Three cases of arson were recorded in five attacks in the last six months.

Abia State, where the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, hails from has so far witnessed 7 attacks on security formations. Miffed by the level of destruction of lives and properties, the South-East governors have through the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, condemned the rate of insecurity in the zone. Umahi had maintained that those behind the killings and destruction of properties were people from the region, even as he pleaded that such dastardly acts should end.

“We condemn in totality the insecurity in South-East orchestrated by our own people who are tagged unknown gunmen and I appeal on behalf of the governors that this should come to a stop. We are very mobile people; restricting our people is to destroy us and I am sure that every man and woman in the South-East knows that.”

Speaking on the security situation in the zone, National President of the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, Goodluck Ibem, said the FG’s approach to leadership was fuelling insecurity in the zone. “The insecurity ravaging the South-East geopolitical zone today is a result of lopsided appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari which favour only the northern part of the country that has predominantly his tribesmen; Fulani.

“So, before you can solve a particular problem completely without scratching it on the surface, you first of all look at the root cause of the problem. President Buhari’s nepotistic approach to governance brought about the present insecurity ravaging the South-East zone today and by extension the entire country. Instead of the President to address issues bordering on the killings by Fulani herdsmen and lopsided appointments raised by IPOB, he ordered security agencies to start killing Igbo youths for daring to protest against his style of leadership.

“One should ask why we had peace and tranquillity when Goodluck Jonathan was President. The answer is simple. He understands the diversity of Nigeria and carried every component of the federation along. No segment was left out. Moving forward, the FG should provide employment for our youths that are roaming the streets without jobs. The Federal government should make Ndigbo feel the impact of governance by appointing South-East indigenes into federal positions.

“A South-East son or daughter should be appointed a security chief. You cannot hold any security meeting about South-East without anyone from that zone; it cannot work. Only someone who understands a particular terrain can know how to police such a place. It will amount to beating around the bush if no one from the South-East is a member of the National Security Council.

“The Federal Character principle should be adopted in appointments into federal parastatals so that all geopolitical zones in the country will be fully represented in the country. Appointing only northerners mostly of the Fulani tribe and believing nothing will happen is totally wrong. The local government council that was created to bring government closer to the people have been totally defeated.

“Governors have hijacked the money meant to cater for local dwellers. These have really caused restiveness among our youths at local level. The constitution should be amended so that INEC will conduct all elections from the local government council elections to the presidential elections. The FG should release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB and send him back to London where he is a citizen. The way he was taken away from Kenya is wrong. It is an international offence. People are very angry that Kanu was given such treatment because he is an Igboman.”

President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Igboayaka O. igboayaka, described insecurity in the zone as an offshoot of the marginalisation of the zone by the FG. He added, “The insecurity in South-East is an effect of the way separatist groups were treated. First, the Federal Government should negotiate and engage in a dialogue with all pro-Biafra groups.

“There should be institutionalisation of community security network in all communities in the South-East. Again, the effect of drug abuse among the youths is evidence of the violence we see today. Therefore, rehabilitation centres should be established to re-orient our youths. The South-East governors should collaborate with the Federal Government to fight unemployment. Lack of job and idleness contribute to youth restiveness and crime.”

Adding his voice, National President of Igbo National Council, Chilos Godsent, proposed a stakeholders’ advocacy meeting with major stakeholders in the conflict as one of the steps to ending the insecurity. “I call for Igbo Nation Youth Security summit, training and inauguration of 250 peace monitors in the South-East region of Nigeria,” Godsent added.

Speaking on the insecurity that has pervaded the region, the Zonal Police PRO, Zone 9 (covering Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states), Kingsley Iredibia, maintained that the police were doing their best to stem the tide of killings, arson and other criminalities within its area of coverage. “Recently, the spate of violence or killings has reduced in Imo and Abia states because there is synergy among security agencies to curb the ugly trend. These security agencies have carried the war to the doorsteps of the unknown gunmen in Zone 9 and the intelligence being provided and gathered is helping to fight the attackers.

“Also, good spirited Nigerians are now on the same page with the police in fighting violent upsurge in the zone. They have also condemned the wrong approaches in seeking for self-determination by the attackers. Even Ohanaeze Ndigbo has come up via a communiqué and they said they were not happy with the approach perpetrators of these crimes adopted to seek self-determination. Also, youths in the zone have started being realistic and saying that it’s their land that is in crisis. They visited the AIG the other day and said they would partner with the police to fight these attackers.

“Therefore, the police in the South-East are doing their best to control this situation, but when there is an incident in a particular place, a federal force will always be drafted to go there and assist. Outside this country, whenever there is trouble, our men used to go for foreign mission. So, as a way of helping to assist the security forces on the ground here, the Inspector General of Police, from time to time, sends federal forces here to compliment efforts of those on the ground.”

However, several calls put across to the spokesperson of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Captain Joseph Akuga, were not answered. Also a text message sent to him to explain the unending security breaches in Imo State and its environs was not replied.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has warned Nigerians against carrying arms in defence of any politician. Makinde, who spoke in Lagos State on Saturday, noted that no politician is worth dying for. He warned Nigerians, especially youths that no one should lose his life supporting politicians.

Makinde, who spoke during the wedding ceremony of one of the sons of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, advised people fighting over politics and religion to have a rethink. He advised those who intend to die because of politicians to have a change of mind. He then cautioned that as Nigeria moves towards the 2023 general elections, no one should fight or die because of any politician.

“If you look at the former governors in Ekiti State – Governor Segun Oni, Governor Ayo Fayose and the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, they have governed the state at one time or the other but they were not in the same party. So, those of you who want to die because of us politicians, be careful. Politics is not something that should cause anybody to lose his or her life. We are moving towards the electioneering period, and I just want to use this opportunity to appeal to you all.

“If you also look at this marriage, the bride and groom are from Christian and Muslim families. So, people who also want to always fight on religious grounds should have a rethink. I want to congratulate Olamide and Oluwalonigba. This is the beginning of a journey and I pray that it will produce male and female children”.

UncleKoboko:
USELESS people.

The national identity card wey I register for since 2016 never still ready.

Old failed fools.

Nigerian Communications Commission has advised telecom subscribers not to allow their National Identification Numbers to be linked to another person’s Subscriber Identity Module cards. A statement quoted the NCC as disclosing this during the 3rd run of its Telecom Consumer Town Hall aired on radio.

Speaking on ‘the Benefits of NIN-SIM Integration’, the NCC Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, said “On no account should a telecom consumer, however circumstanced, allow another person to register a SIM with another person’s NIN.” He said this advice was meant to protect the true owner of the NIN from any liabilities or negative consequences arising from use of other person’s SIM.

He said, “If the person whose SIM is linked to your line uses their own SIM to commit crimes or any form of atrocity, it is easy to be traced to you and then you will be dealt with because the SIM is linked to your NIN.”

During the radio programme, the NCC further stressed that the deadline for NIN-SIM integration remains October 31, 2021.

A Branch Manager with Wema Bank, Bamidele Ajala, has been shot by personnel of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (task force) in Oshodi area of the state. PUNCH Metro gathered that the officers shot the 39-year-old in the hand while they were fleeing with a yet-to-be-identified LT commercial bus driver, who bashed his car.

Our correspondent learnt that the driver crashed into Ajala’s vehicle around Oshodi, inward Airport Road, last Tuesday. After the crash, the banker said the driver claimed he lost control of the vehicle when some area boys working with task force officials dragged steering with him to force him to stop. In the process, the driver rammed into Ajala’s Honda Accord and damaged one of the back doors.

The 39-year-old said he wanted to take the driver to a police station to report the case, but the task force officials refused. Ajala said, “The driver said the area boys usually worked with the task force officials to track down drivers and that it was when they were dragging his steering with him and pepper-sprayed his face that he rammed into my car.

“I told the driver that somebody has to be responsible for the damage to my car. The area boys wore mufti and I held the driver because the damage to my car was too much. So, the real task force officials came, asked why I held the driver’s trousers and I told them I wanted to take him to the police station to make an entry of the accident.

“The task force officials said they would handle it and I handed over the driver to them. The officials called the area boys to drive the commercial bus and the driver away, but when I realised that they were trying to escape with the driver, I ran into my car and caught up with them.”

The Kogi State indigene said when he asked where they were taking the driver to, one of the task force officials shot his right hand and the tyres of his vehicles. The victim, while demanding justice, said the officials protected the bus driver to prevent him from making a report that would indict them.

He said, “I said the driver needed to fix my car, but one of the task force officials slapped my face; my mouth peeled and I started bleeding. The task force official also went toward my car and used his AK-47 to shoot the two tyres on the passenger’s side. At this point, a mob had gathered and in a bid to disperse them, he started shooting and one of the bullets hit my upper left hand. He did all these to prevent me from double-crossing them as I did when they were escaping with the driver and the bus.

“My shirts and inner wears were soaked with blood after being shot, but people rushed me to the Kupa Hospital on Ajao Estate, from where I was referred to the Airforce Hospital in Ikeja for further treatment. I want justice. The task force officials knew if I was able to take the commercial driver to the station, he would mention their names.”

An x-ray conducted on Ajala and sighted by PUNCH Metro showed a bullet in the victim’s left hand. A spokesperson for the task force, Raheem Gbadeyinka, said the task force did not operate in the area on the day of the incident.

“Not all policemen are part of the task force; there are some people who parade themselves as task force officials, but they are not. Regarding his case, it has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the policemen are actually task force men.”

Three persons have been reportedly killed in the ongoing supremacy clashes involving members of the Eiye and Aiye cults in Owode and Ibeshe communities, in the Igbogbo Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. Among the victims was a betting agent, identified only as Segun, who was hit by a stray bullet.

Our correspondent learnt that the other two victims were suspected cultists, one of whom was shot dead around the F1 bar in the Ebute area of Ikorodu West LCDA last Sunday. PUNCH Metro gathered that the supremacy battle had been ongoing for over a month in the communities. Some residents were said to have abandoned their houses to seek refuge in safe environments, while many lived in constant fear of the unknown.

A source said the cultists usually engaged one another with guns, cutlasses and machetes, adding that business activities in the Owode and Ibeshe areas had been grounded due to the cult attacks. The source said, “What is going on is totally uncalled for, and it is sad that an innocent person, Segun, that I knew very well was killed by a stray bullet shot by these cultists. Two other suspected cultists were killed. One was shot dead adjacent to the F1Bar in Ebute, Ikorodu.

“The clashes between Aiye cultists from Owode and Eiye cultists from Ibeshe have been going on for over a month. What we gathered was that the Eiye cultists killed an Aiye cultist and they have been fighting and killing one another, including innocent residents. From 6pm in Owode and Ibeshe, everywhere is deserted; you won’t even see anyone moving from 7pm for their own safety. The situation has got to a stage where cultists rob hawkers and business persons of their goods at will. Residents have been relocating; I am also planning to relocate my family.”

A politician, Rotimi Balogun, said the cultists were fighting over tax collection from truck drivers conveying sand into the community, and land matters, adding that the police in the area needed support to resolve the problem. He said, “At least 3 people have been killed and the crisis has been going on for 4 weeks. We have reported to the police, but I don’t think the police station in Ibeshe has the capacity to quell the crisis on ground as they need backup. The atmosphere is charged; everyone is just anticipating because the cultists can start fighting suddenly.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said he would get back to our correspondent after being briefed. He had yet to do so as of press time.

EDO State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he would not brook opposition within the state chapter of the PDP in his quest to reposition and strengthen it. He said this at an expanded meeting of party leaders in Benin, on Monday.

Obaseki said, “There are people who have continued to come and feed you with lies. That is the nature of their politics if there is no confusion they will not eat. Last year, when we joined you, we started a movement that has never happened in Edo before, not even in our politics. If we go to the election today, we will win by 85%. It means we don’t have meaningful opposition and if this is the situation, we should not create opposition inside.

“I will not leave PDP. I am the leader of PDP and by the grace of God, I will lead PDP well. Anybody that doesn’t want me to lead or want to accept my leadership will leave PDP for me. We are here to stay and invest in PDP. I am the governor to join PDP last and was made chairman of our e-registration process so why should I leave the party. We came to see PDP as a solid Party, the only true party in this country while others are special purpose vehicles for elections.”

He explained that a handful of persons out of greed were opposed to harmonizing positions to give all party members a sense of belonging hence the contrived crisis within the state chapter. Earlier, the state chapter of the party ignored a directive by the National Working Committee of the party to stay action on the suspension of the PDP National Vice Chairman (South South), Dan Orbirh and other state party leaders.

The State Working Committee of the party ratified the suspensions of Orbirh, a member of the House of Representatives representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama; State Secretary of Edo State PDP, Hilary Otsu; among others. The suspensions were ratified by all PDP leaders across the 18 Local Government Areas and the three Senatorial Districts of the State at an enlarged meeting of the leaders held in Benin City.

A motion for ratification of the suspension was moved by Mike Nosa-Ehima, a leader of the PDP in Oredo LGA, and was seconded by Sylvanus Eruaga, a leader of the party from Etsako West LGA.

Nigeria recorded no fewer than 612 deaths across 103 LGAs in 29 states in August, a security report has revealed. Victims were reportedly killed by gunmen and kidnappers in various armed attacks, violent crimes and bomb attacks in Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Benue, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Osun, Ondo and other states.

The report was released in Abuja last Saturday by Beacon Consulting, a Nigerian security consulting firm offering bespoke security advisory services, risk management, and resilience solutions. The firm explained that the August figure represented marked reduction in the number of fatalities since June (1,032), the highest for the year.

The report presented by the MD Beacon Consulting, Kabir Adamu, read, “In August 2021, we recorded a diverse range of security incidents and total of 612 fatalities in 29 states across 103 LGAs. The August figure of 612 represents another marked reduction in number of fatalities since the highest for the year, 1032, in June 2021.

“The thematic indications of the incidents that resulted in these fatalities include armed attacks and continuation of the trend of several non-state actors successfully challenging the state’s monopoly of the use of force. Findings suggest that for the reporting period, 76% of kidnappings in schools happened in 2021 while 48% of all abductions during these events also took place in 2021. Overall, 88% of these events happened in northern Nigeria.”

“The region has been afflicted by conflict fueled by clashes over access to land and resources, among other factors. At least 7 states in northern Nigeria have shut schools due to the rise in abductions and banditry in 2021,” the report noted. It further observed that August saw increase in inter-community violence in Plateau State in spite of ongoing security forces action to contain the cycle of targeted attacks and reprisals in Mangu, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos North, and Jos South.

Beacon Consulting submitted that the cycle of conflict in Plateau as well as several other parts of the North- Central was driven by socio-economic and identity issues vis-à-vis political dynamics of the states.
While the North-East region recorded 70 deaths in 6 LGAs in two states, the North-West had 249 fatalities and 309 abducted persons, which occured in 26 LGAs in 5 states.

North-Central suffered 131 fatalities while 55 persons were abducted in 23 LGAs across 7 states but South-South region had 32 deaths and 6 kidnap victims in 14 LGAs of 6 states during the period. South-West had 47 fatalities and 8 kidnap incidents across 22 LGAs in 5 states; political violence, criminality, including attacks on financial institutions and kidnap- for- ransom as well as the self-determination debate dominated developments during the reporting period.

The report added, “We recorded 83 fatalities and five kidnap incidents in 12 LGAs in 4 states in the South-East region as a result of the ongoing activities of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, farmer versus herder conflicts, as well as security forces operation in the region against the activities of these and other non-state actors.

“It is assessed as credible that security forces’ operations in the South-East have intensified and reduced non-state actors’ freedom to operate. It is further assessed as credible the likelihood for resumption of activities of these non-state actors being high in the short and medium term as the conflict dynamics in the region such as clashes between farmers and herders as well as between IPOB or ESN and the security forces are yet to be permanently resolved.”

The security firm contended that attempts by non-state actors to challenge supremacy of the use of force by the state through attacks on rural communities, mass abductions, and illegal checkpoints on travel routes in the North East, North Central, and North-West regions and attacks on security forces formations in the South-East would continue unless the Federal and state governments collaborate to enhance administration of criminal justice in restoring social order and by addressing root causes of these challenges.

It also stressed need for the Federal and state governments to collaborate in dominating the forested and other ungoverned spaces which the bandits use as safe havens and to keep victims. The report forecast that criminal activities including kidnapping, violent and petty crimes as well as home invasions are likely to continue in the short and medium term due to deteriorating economic situation in the country. ,,

blamingthedevil:
Op your first picture is not Benin...Benin is not as developed as that

Economic hardship being experienced in Imo State has been compounded following the strike by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) now sells for N500 per litre at the black market. This situation has consequently caused over a 100% rise in transport fares across the state.

Members of the Imo State chapter of IPMAN had on Wednesday commenced a strike over refusal of the Imo State government to honour a court judgment to pay compensation to a member of the association whose fuel station was demolished by the past administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

As the strike enters its 3rd day, black market operators are now having a field day, with a litre of fuel now costing between N500 and N550. Fuel stations operating in the state have all shut down. Our correspondent who monitored the situation on Friday reports that commercial bus drivers as well as motorcyclists have tripled their fares.

Saturday Sun learnt the black market operators go to neighbouring states of Anambra and Abia to source PMS at of 240 per litre and then sell at N500 /550 per litre. Transport fare from Owerri to Orlu is N1000 as against normal price of N400 . This situation has left many passengers stranded.

One of the passengers at Warehouse Orlu Park lamented the sudden hike in transport fares. “I had to pay N1000 as against N400 to Ideato because of this, and as you can see for yourself, most of the passengers are already stranded as they cannot afford the increase,” he lamented.

Another traveller who identified himself as Ugonna decried a situation where the state government does not have interest in the welfare of her citizens.

Cupidkc:
I bought 12.5kg for 6500 on Sunday.... It wasn't funny.

THE Federal Government on Monday feigned ignorance as a firm concluded arrangement to recruit Nigerian doctors for Saudi Arabia. The firm, Meed Consultants, is recruiting doctors in different specialities under a programme tagged, ‘Saudi Ministry of Health Doctors Recruitment August 2021.”

The government-licensed recruiting agency based in Abuja has fixed Tuesday (today) as interview date for doctors who registered for recruitment on its website. This is coming at a time resident doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors are currently on strike.

Our correspondent reported that flyers announcing the recruitment had been trending on social media, especially WhatsApp platforms. But when contacted on the matter on Monday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, denied knowledge of the exercise. He directed our correspondent to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire. According to Ngige, the Health minister is in charge of doctors.

“I am not aware of that. You can please contact the Minister of Health. His ministry is in charge of doctors,” the minister stressed. Ehanire, however, did not take the calls made to his known telephone line.

He had also yet to respond to the text message sent to him on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

However, in his reaction, NARD President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, told The PUNCH doctors were at liberty to do whatever they wanted to do since government had failed to fulfill its promises. He said there was no benefit for any doctor still practising in Nigeria, saying those who were staying back were only being patriotic.

Okhuaihesuyi said, “Everybody is free to do whatever he/she wants. The government has not fulfilled its promises to the health sector. Those who stay behind are only doing so because of patriotism, not as if there is any benefit or something.”

Efforts made by our correspondent to reach the firm on the telephone line on its website did not yield result as the line did not connect. An enquiry posted on the website has also not been replied to.

According to the interview invitation, specialties that will be interviewed for employment include anaesthesia, ICU, paediatrics surgery, family medicine (consultants only), obstetrics and gynaecology, ENT, Emergency medicine, all sub-specialties (surgery), all sub-specialties (internal medicine), orthopaedic surgery, Ophthalmology, Radiology as well as Haematology and Histopathology.

The invitation also listed requirements such as originals and photocopies of all credentials; updated CV with chronologically detailed summary of experience, two passport-sized photographs and a valid form of identification. The interview is scheduled to hold at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

Some doctors, who did not want their names in print, told our correspondent it was not the first time the firm would be recruiting for Saudi authorities. One of them said the firm conducted a similar interview in 2018 for medical consultants. He said, “This is not the first time they are organising such recruitment. This was also done in 2018. They held one in Lagos and another in Abuja.

“Lots of doctors are coming out tomorrow (today). It is not about being an Islamic country; it is about conditions of service. As a Christian, if it means I have to go to an Islamic country to get better conditions of service, then I will go.”