Crime

DSS Foils Fresh Kidnap, Arrests Professor’s Killers

By Web News 408

Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested two suspected kidnappers linked to the 2023 abduction and killing of a neurology professor, Professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, in Cross River State.

Professor Philip-Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, from her office in Calabar, and was later confirmed murdered by her captors.

According to the then Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State, Dr Felix Archibong, the kidnappers posed as patients, drew weapons while she attended to them, and abducted her around 7:15 p.m.

The abduction sparked outrage across the medical community, forcing the Cross River chapter of the NMA to withdraw services in protest while demanding her rescue.

DSS officials, who spoke anonymously on Monday, said operatives arrested the suspects on December 27, 2025, at a medical facility in the state while they were allegedly planning to kidnap another senior medical practitioner.

The suspects were identified as Patrick Essien Etim, 23, the alleged gang leader, and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40.

Security sources disclosed that the DSS had tracked the gang since July 2023, when armed men abducted the professor from her private clinic on Atimbo Road, Calabar, under the guise of seeking medical care.

“Our operatives arrested the leader of the gang and another accomplice responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim,” a source said.

The suspects have confessed, admitting that they killed her after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family.”

Merry Christmas from all of us at Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

The source added that the arrests may finally bring closure to the professor’s family after two years of uncertainty and grief.

The suspects also reportedly confessed to kidnapping other victims and vandalising electricity infrastructure.

In a related development, DSS operatives also arrested another suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, in connection with the criminal network.

According to the DSS, the arrests underscore the agency’s renewed focus on covert operations aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates and strengthening public safety nationwide.

Punch/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Health

NMA Laments Brain Drain/Poor Pay in Health Sector

By Web News 414

By Olawale Asake

The continued exodus of medical personnel and poor remuneration in Oyo state health sector dominated discussions at the 2025 week of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Oyo state branch held at NMA House, Total Garden, Ibadan. 

In statement heralding the physicians’ week, Chairman of the Association, Dr Happy Adedapo, observed that the few  medical Doctors working at some General Hospitals across Oyo State were being over stretched due to their inadequate number and the increasing number patients they attended to daily. 

He added that, some primary Health Care centre also lacked basic equipment, essential medicines, which had adversely affected expectant and nursing mothers at the grassroots. 

The NMA Chairman, however, urged government to strengthen integrated referral systems linking primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities to provide welfare to medical doctors. 

Dr Adedapo appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently fulfil thebpromise made to Medical Doctors at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ogbomoso. 

He noted that the annual event would afford the physicians the opportunity to celebrate the resilience of commitment and sacrifice of Nigerian doctors and reflect deeply on the state of the health system.

Edited by Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

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Health

NMA Says 1,800 Doctors, Healthcare Workers Emigrated in December 2022

By Web News 751

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has warned that the country stands to witness the flight of more health workers abroad if the government does not address factors fueling the brain drain.

The Chairman, NMA Lagos Branch, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu gave the warning at a stakeholders engagement with political party leadership and gubernatorial candidate in Lagos organized by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator in partnership with Legislative Initiative For Sustainable Development.

 Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu explained that brain drain syndrome continues to deplete the health workforce, revealing that in December of 2022, more than 1,800 healthcare workers left the country for greener pastures.

According to Olowojebutu, Medicine as a profession “might go into extinction” in the country if the problem persisted.

“There is a very big challenge about brain drain. I have said several times that we have to be very deliberate about how we tackle this. There is a pull and push syndrome that is affecting doctors leaving Lagos State,” he declared.

“During COVID-19 in 2020, 81 doctors moved from Lagos to the UK. They had a special plane that came to carry them from the UK. Between March 2020 and October 2022, we lost 507 doctors from Lagos state to the UK.

“In December 2022 alone, we lost over 1,800 doctors and other healthcare workers to brain drain. We need to think of how to make healthcare attractive and sustainable.

“Before, we used to have young doctors travelling abroad for greener pastures, but now, even the consultants that are supposed to be training the young doctors are leaving the country.

“There is a dearth of doctors in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State. Some places don’t have specialities anymore because the specialists have left the country at this time”.

Dr Olowojebutu stressed the imperative for government to “critically treat the issue as an emergency” and to solve the problem.

Culled/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Health

Ondo NMA Announces Suspension Of Strike After Stakeholders’ Meeting

By Web News 993

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Ondo State chapter, has suspended its strike action forthwith for the sake of the people who can’t afford expensive medical care.

The Ondo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe disclosed during an interactive session with the Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, Committee on Health and other stakeholders in Akure.

Dr. Adegbehingbe who lamented that the strike has increased mortality rate due patronage of quack doctors, noted that medical practitioners in the Ondo State would return to work as soon as possible for the interest of the people who are seriously in need of medical attention in government hospitals.

She called on the state government to do needful, by giving attention to the welfare of medical personnel and other health workers for effective health delivery.

Dr. Adegbehingbe also appealed to government to address the challenge of inadequate facilities, training, and shortage of manpower among others.

Addressing the session, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr. Adiodun Falaye appreciated the medical practitioners for keeping to the tenets of their profession.

Dr. Falaye gave assurance that the legislative arm will liaise with the executive in finding a lasting solution to the issue.

Other lawmakers also appreciated the health workers for having genuine human feelings.

Correspondent Olumide Abudu reports that Resident Doctors also attended the intervention meeting. Olumide Abudu

Health

Doctors’ Strike: NMA Urges Nigerians To Be Patient

By Web News 854

Nigerians have been advised to seek quality healthcare services at different private and state hospitals pending the time the issue between Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD and federal government would be resolved.

Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State, Dr. Ayotunde Fasunla stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan.

Dr. Fasunla noted that rather than waiting for federal institutions of health, conditions of patients might worsen.

The medical expert however urged Nigerians to be patient as the issues on ground between federal government and resident doctors would definitely be resolved.

Lilian Ibomor

Education

COVID-19: Reopening Schools Not Safe For Pupils, Citizens — Oyo NMA

By Web News 663

It is not yet safe to reopen schools in Oyo state, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has revealed.

NMA, in a press statement on Thursday, commended the efforts of the Seyi Makinde led COVID-19 taskforce in Oyo State for its efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the state.

However, inthe statement, which was jointly signed by the NMA chairman, Dr. Akin Sodipo and Secretary, Dr. Okuwaseun Adebayo, the association described the announcement by the state government that final year primary and secondary school students should resume on the 29th of June as a surprising one.

According to them, “the NMA, being a critical stakeholder in the war against the pandemic has been following closely the progression of the disease and its attendant morbidities and modalities within the state and the country at large and can conveniently say from statistics at hand that these decisions, although with good intentions, may not be a safe one for the school pupils and indeed the citizens of the state at large at this time that the disease appears to be on the increase.”

They then appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to reconsider his decision to reopened schools and religious centers for the time being.

Adebayo Abdulrahman/Adewumi Faniran