Kaduna doctor Ganiyat Popoola regains freedom after 10 months in captivity

Kaduna doctor Ganiyat Popoola regains freedom after 10 months in captivity

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The Kaduna-based medical doctor, Dr Ganiyat Popoola kidnapped last year has regained her freedom.

Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna State, was kidnapped alongside her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who resides with them.

Following extensive negotiations with the kidnappers, her husband was released on March 8, 2024, but the doctor and Abdul-Mugniy remained in captivity.

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However, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NAR), confirmed the release of Popoola and her nephew.

In a statement issued Thursday, NARD’s spokesperson, Omoha Amobi, expressed the relief and joy felt by NARD’s President, Dr. Osundara Tope Zenith, saying, “We are filled with immense joy and relief to inform you that Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, our dear colleague, has been released and reunited with her family.”

The statement conveyed gratitude to everyone who contributed to her safe return, acknowledging “the unwavering support, prayers, and contributions of all members and well-wishers, which have been invaluable during this challenging time.”

Dr. Popoola, her husband, and a relative were abducted in December of last year. Her husband was released in March, leaving her and the other relative in captivity until now.

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At the time of this report, further statements from police authorities were still awaited.

Popoola’s prolonged abduction highlighted the need for guaranteed security for Nigerians, as the medical community continued to appeal to the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure her safe return.

NARD launched a campaign for Popoola’s release with the hashtag “#BringBackDrGaniyat” across social media platforms.

In August 2024, members of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital, Abuja, held a peaceful protest to demand Popoola’s rescue. Protestors carried placards with various messages, such as “Free Dr Ganiyat Popoola, help bring Ganiyat home safely,” “Rescue Dr Ganiyat now,” “Please, help bring Dr Ganiyat home,” “Injury to one is an injury to all,” and “Doctors are crying, help us save her.”

A similar protest was held in Ogun State by resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Speaking to one of our correspondents, the ARD President at the hospital, Dr Lanre-Aremo Babajide, stated that the doctors would embark on an indefinite strike from August 26, 2024, if Popoola was not rescued.

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He said, “Our demand is simple: we want the government to intervene and secure our colleague, Dr Popoola’s, release from captivity. We are calling on the Federal Government, security chiefs, and the National Security Adviser to intervene and secure her release.

“People are trained to rescue abducted captives, so they should act immediately. If she’s not rescued by August 26, we will embark on an indefinite strike as directed by our national body, NARD.”

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Meanwhile, in a letter dated August 12, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, petitioned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the doctor’s case.

It was reported that since the abduction, the kidnappers had periodically allowed family members to speak with the captives, with the last communication on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, to confirm that the doctor and her nephew were still alive.

The minister’s letter stated in part, “The association informed us of the abduction of one of their members, Dr Ganiyat Olawole Popoola, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, and her nephew over seven months ago (December 2023), and that the victims have remained in the kidnappers’ custody to date.”

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