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The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
yesterday announced the abduction of yet another of its members. According to
the association, Paul Oriaifo was on Sunday morning abducted by suspected
kidnappers in Ekpoma.

Just last week, a member of the association and former Permanent
Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health, Momoh Daudu was kidnapped.

The NMA yesterday lamented the poor state of security in the
state just as it said security agencies in the state were not making use of
intelligence information available to curb crime.

The association recalled that the closure of banks in Edo
Central in the last three weeks over incessant robbery incidents had created
lots of hardship for the people in the area, as banks have refused to open for
business since the last two weeks due to almost daily occurrence of robbery. A
statement jointly signed by the state chairman of the association, Philip
Ugbodaga, its Secretary, Emmanuel Ighodaro and its Public Relations Officer,
Kennedy Alohan, called for an overhaul of the security apparatus in the state
for efficiency.

Unconditional release

“The NMA, Edo State branch is extremely concerned that
kidnapping is still a prevalent and thriving business in Nigeria. Despite the
often trumpeted resolve by both the state and federal government to tackle this
emerging threat to free movement and to humanity, very little is being done in
that regard. The inability to curb this menace is a failure of intelligence
gathering.

“While we join the rest of the world to celebrate the killing this morning
of Osama Bin Laden as a result of sound intelligence network, we recommend
undercover intelligence operations by the various security agencies to deal
with the problem of kidnapping. We have gotten to a breaking point. Medical
personnel are now unable to differentiate between abductors and genuine
patients making it difficult for doctors to undertake their humane duty to save
lives. If this problem is not curbed fast, the effect on society will be
devastating.”

The group stated further that “The abductors of Dr Paul Oriaifo are
demanding six million naira. Neither the NMA nor the family is prepared to
negotiate any payment of ransom for his release. We demand his unconditional
release and hereby charge the security agencies to do all that is necessary to
get him freed.”