2 months ago
18 ARTICLE AD
Kidnapping epidemic in the country is gradually crippling hospital services and denying patients access to care as PUNCH Healthwise investigation reveals that no fever than 109 health workers have been abducted since 2019, SODIQ OJUROUNGBE reports
As Nigeria grapples with a fragile health system worsened by the mass exodus of health workers out of the country and inadequate resources, the surge in kidnappings of medical professionals adds a harrowing dimension to an already dire situation.
Since 2019, exclusive data obtained by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that over 100 health workers have been abducted across the nation, with the latest victim, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, still held captive by bandits for over eight harrowing months.
Popoola, a resident doctor at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, who was abducted last December, remains in captivity despite efforts by her family and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to secure her release.
PUNCH Healthwise gathered that the gunmen allegedly broke into the ophthalmologist’s residence on December 27, 2023, at around 1 am, kidnapping the doctor, her Air Force officer husband who is a Squadron Leader, and their 16-year-old guest.
It was learned that nothing was heard from the kidnappers until the fourth day when they called and demanded the payment of N100 million as a ransom before their release from captivity.
Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers threatened to kill the couple if the N100 million ransom was not paid before January 18.
After several months in captivity, the husband was released, while Poopola and her cousin continued to remain in the kidnappers’ den.
Findings, however, revealed that Poopola was not the first doctor or health worker to be kidnapped.
It was discovered that violence against health workers in Nigeria remained a severe issue over the past five years, with numerous incidents of kidnapping, killing, and looting of health supplies reported across the country.
Alarming data
Exclusive data obtained by PUNCH Healthwise from a group of international nongovernmental organisations working to protect health workers, Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition revealed that 109 workers were kidnapped and 17 killed between 2019 and 2023.
The data, which collated reports of kidnap stories from newspapers, alongside statements from police and military, reveals that the rising trend of kidnappings in Nigeria is affecting a broad spectrum of healthcare workers.
The data indicated that medical doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists have all been targeted, highlighting a widespread issue within the sector.
According to the data, five health workers were killed and seven were kidnapped, primarily in Borno state in 2019.
The report obtained by our correspondent revealed that all seven health workers kidnapped were working in Borno state. The kidnappings reportedly took place during road ambushes or at illegal checkpoints. Three health workers were executed, one has been released, and three remain in captivity.
According to the data, at least five health workers were killed during incidents of violence in 2019.
The violence continued into 2020, with at least one health worker killed and 18 kidnapped. That year, ten incidents of health supplies were also reported to have been looted by suspected bandits.
For 2021, kidnappings of health workers were reported in eight states. Besides Katsina (where four kidnappings were attributed to “bandits”), three were reported from Cross River and Kogi states.
Kidnappings were also reported from Adamawa, Ekiti, Delta, Niger, and Ondo states. Perpetrators usually made ransom demands following the kidnappings.
Also, local armed groups, often with firearms, killed at least one health worker and kidnapped at least five during raids on local communities. Two health workers were killed in a health centre by unidentified armed men in Zamfara state.
A breakdown of the data also showed that the situation worsened in 2021 when 30 health workers were kidnapped and four were killed, this period also recorded significant damage to health facilities, with 11 facilities reported as damaged or destroyed. The violence affected health workers across 13 states, with Kaduna being particularly hard hit.
In total, at least 30 health workers, including doctors, nurses, a dentist, and a laboratory technician, were kidnapped in 20 incidents during 2021. The kidnappings were widely dispersed, reported in 13 of 36 states, although a quarter of kidnapping incidents took place in Kaduna state.
Health workers were kidnapped directly from health facilities, when travelling to or from work, or when working in the field. Thirteen health workers were kidnapped while they were working at hospitals in Adamawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Oyo, and Zamfara states. Two were kidnapped in home invasions in Akwa Ibom and Niger states.
The data also revealed that health workers were kidnapped on their own or in small groups. In one case five health workers, including two nurses, were abducted by gunmen who stormed the residential headquarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Center in Kaduna in July 2021.
In total, four of the health workers were killed by their captors, ten were released after one to seven days of captivity, and the fate of 16 others was not reported.
In 2022, the number of kidnapped health workers increased to 37, and seven health workers were killed.
Additionally, 11 incidents of health supplies being looted were reported. The violence was widespread, impacting 19 states, including Zamfara state.
These incidents were reported throughout 2022 and continued to be widespread, occurring in 19 of Nigeria’s 36 states. Most incidents affected health workers working for the national health structure, while four were reported as directly affecting local NGOs and international NGOs.
High numbers were reported in Borno state, where the looting of medical supplies from health centres was frequently reported, as was the case in 2021. In contrast to the looting of medical supplies, which is concentrated in the north of the country, health worker kidnappings and killings were widespread across the country.
Elsewhere, incidents doubled in Zamfara state in 2022 from two in 2021 to four.
By 2023, the data revealed that there was a reduction in reported kidnappings, with 19 health workers kidnapped and no killings specifically recorded for that year.
Despite the overall decrease, the trend of violence against health workers persisted, with new cases emerging in previously less affected states such as Nasarawa and Osun.
While, the number of incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care more than halved and the number of states reporting cases nearly halved in 2023, compared to 2022. Reports show a decrease from 17 in Borno and Yobe combined in 2022 to three in Borno in 2023.
New cases were reported in Nasarawa and Osun states in 2023. As in previous years, in 2023 the majority of incidents affected health care providers working in national health structures. International NGOs were directly affected in two of the three cases recorded in Borno.
Harrowing experiences
PUNCH Healthwise observed that the escalating violence against health workers in the country has not only intensified the healthcare crisis but also left a lasting psychological impact on those in the field.
Aisha Bashir’s ordeal began in early 2021 when she was abducted by armed men in Borno State.
Bashir, a nurse at a Primary Health Centre in the state, told PUNCH Healthwise that her abduction was a devastating blow not only to her family but also to the local healthcare community.
“I was on my way home from the hospital when the kidnappers ambushed me. They were heavily armed and aggressive. They dragged me into their vehicle and took me to an undisclosed location. The initial hours were the most terrifying. They blindfolded me and kept me in a small, dark room. I could hear the muffled voices of other captives, which added to the anxiety and fear,” she stated.
During her captivity, Bashi said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N5 million, a sum that was beyond the means of her family.
Despite their financial struggles, she revealed that her family worked tirelessly to raise the money, reaching out to friends, colleagues, and even local organisations for support.
After weeks of relentless pressure, she said her family managed to pay a reduced ransom.
“While I was relieved to be free, the trauma of the experience lingered. I struggled to return to my normal life and work,” she noted.
“The fear and anxiety were overwhelming. It took a long time for me to trust people again and to feel safe.”
Speaking on the psychological scars from the ordeal, Bashir said she and her family continue to be affected by the incident.
She added, “My family was deeply traumatised by the experience. They had to deal with the constant fear of what might happen to me, and the financial strain of paying the ransom took a toll on our savings.”
Similarly, a nurse based in Zamfara State, Maryam Yusuf narrated how she experienced the brutal reality of the violence against healthcare workers firsthand.
In early 2023, Yusuf said she was abducted along with her colleagues by a group of armed bandits.
She said the abduction occurred while on her way home from a late shift at the local clinic.
“The bandits stopped our vehicle and forced us out. They were armed and aggressive, shouting orders at us. They separated us into different groups and took us to a remote location,” Yusuf explained.
Yusuf and her colleagues were held in a makeshift camp in the wilderness. She lamented that the conditions were harsh and inhumane. “We were kept in cramped conditions with little food or water. The bandits didn’t care about our well-being. They were only interested in extracting ransom money from our families,” she said.
“My family had to make numerous sacrifices, including selling valuable assets and borrowing money from relatives and friends. The emotional strain on them was immense,” Yusuf recounted.
Throughout her captivity, Yusuf faced psychological and physical abuse. “The bandits would beat us if they were unhappy with the ransom negotiations. The constant fear of violence was overwhelming. I often felt hopeless and desperate,” she said.
32 still in captivity
The Chairman of ARD, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abah Innocent revealed that no fewer than 32 medical doctors are currently in the captivity of kidnappers.
Innocent while speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, said there was no information on what has happened to the kidnapped doctors, whether they are dead or alive,
He lamented that the hope of reuniting them with their families is becoming dimmer daily.
He said, “Posterity will not be fair to medical doctors if they fail to take any action to ensure their release. Medical doctors have been targeted by kidnappers across the country for ransom.”
Turning to kidnappers’ doctors
Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that some of the kidnappers forced their captives, particularly medical professionals, to act as their physicians.
It was gathered that some of them were forced to use their medical skills under the threat of violence, an experience that deeply affected them both physically and psychologically.
Some of the survivors and stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent said kidnappers were abducting doctors and compelling them to provide medical care for the kidnappers or some of their other abductees.
They added that some of the health workers used to treat kidnappers who had sustained severe wounds during a clash with security forces.
The immediate past president of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji lamented that the coercion involved in such scenarios not only endangers the life of the kidnapped doctors but also compounds the trauma of the situation.
Orji noted that for medical professionals, being forced to treat individuals who have inflicted harm upon them or others represents a profound ethical conflict and a severe psychological burden.
According to him, kidnappers are not only motivated by the belief that doctors are affluent but also by the critical role doctors play in their operations.
Mistaking health workers as wealthy targets
Speaking further, the former NARD president said medical professionals were being targeted for kidnapping, citing misconceptions about their salaries and the demand for medical care by kidnappers.
Orji explained that kidnappers often see doctors as lucrative targets due to a widespread misconception about their financial status.
According to him, doctors are often targeted because criminals perceive them as high-value targets for ransom, although many doctors in Nigeria are among the least well-compensated civil servants.
“There’s a dangerous myth that doctors are rich,” he said. “This misunderstanding is leading to more doctors being abducted, as criminals believe they can demand substantial ransoms from them.”
The abduction that sparks protest
Eight months after efforts to get Popoola released from the kidnappers’ den failed, NARD decided to embark on a seven-day warning strike.
The warning strike is coming a week after the association embarked on nationwide protests to press home their demand for Popoola to be released.
Declaring the seven-day strike on August 25, NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi said the strike will be total, with no emergency care services available for one week.
He said doctors could no longer stand by idly while one of our own “remains in danger”.
“The continuous captivity of Dr Popoola is unacceptable, and we can no longer stand by idly while one of our remains is in danger,” Dr Abdullahi stated.
Meanwhile, the strike action has severely impacted healthcare services nationwide, as many Nigerians who need urgent medical care groan under the abandonment of the doctors.
A consultant at a federal medical centre told PUNCH Healthwise that the workload has become more overwhelming because of the strike by the resident doctors.
The gynaecologist lamented that he is now left to work extra hours and do some of the work meant to be done by the protesting resident doctors.
“I am now more busy than before because the workload is now much because of the strike by NARD. We are left to cater for people which normally would be the resident doctors’ job. We cannot allow patients to suffer, hence, the reason we all had to make sacrifices,” the don stated,
Way out
With the safety of doctors and other medical personnel increasingly under threat, stakeholders are advocating for comprehensive security measures to safeguard healthcare facilities and personnel from abduction and violence.
The recent surge in kidnappings, driven in part by the mistaken belief that doctors are wealthy, prompted urgent calls for enhanced security strategies.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, the stakeholders including a security expert noted that a multi-pronged approach is essential to effectively combat the threat of kidnappings and ensure the well-being of those on the front lines of the health sector.
The suggested measures include increased police presence around healthcare facilities, installation of advanced surveillance systems, and the establishment of emergency response teams specifically trained to handle threats against medical institutions.
On his part, the former NARD president suggested that the government should prioritise building secure accommodations for doctors within hospital premises, enhancing their safety and reducing their visibility to potential threats.
He argued that housing doctors on-site would significantly improve their safety by reducing their visibility to potential kidnappers and eliminating the risk of being targeted in their private residences.
“By providing secure living quarters within hospital premises, we can create a safer environment for doctors,” the surgeon explained.
“When doctors live on-site, they are less exposed to external threats and less likely to be targeted by kidnappers who might be familiar with their home addresses. This setup also ensures that doctors are closer to their workplace, which can be crucial in emergencies.”
He noted that the government can leverage existing land within tertiary health institutions to build these secure accommodations.
He stressed that many hospitals already have unused or underutilised land that could be repurposed for this purpose.
“Most tertiary health institutions have ample land that can be used to construct secure housing for medical staff. The government should invest in developing these facilities to enhance the safety and security of our healthcare professionals,” he noted.
In addition to providing secure housing, Orji emphasised the need for robust security measures around hospital premises.
He called for increased investment in security infrastructure, including surveillance systems, perimeter fencing, and on-site security personnel.
“Hospitals should be equipped with modern security systems to prevent unauthorised access and protect both patients and staff,” he said.
Also, a security expert, Jackson Adeola said hospitals should install high-resolution surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and electronic access controls.
“Hospitals should be equipped with state-of-the-art security systems to monitor and control access to critical areas. Modern security technology can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised entry and enhance overall security.
The security expert also advocated for a stronger presence of trained security personnel at healthcare facilities.
According to him, the recommendation includes hiring dedicated security staff, such as armed guards, to patrol hospital premises and provide immediate response capabilities in the event of a threat.
“Having a visible and well-trained security team can act as both a deterrent to potential kidnappers and a first line of defence in case of an incident,” Adeola explained.
While emphasising the importance of strengthening collaboration between healthcare institutions and law enforcement agencies, the security expert said establishing clear communication channels and regular security briefings can improve coordination and enhance the effectiveness of security measures.
On his part, the Kogi State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Abubakar Hassan blamed the mass exodus of medical doctors out of the country on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
Hassan lamented that medical personnel had recently become the prime targets for criminal elements despite their service to humanity.
Hassan argued that this had crippled the health services across the nation and that Kogi State was not exempted.
He asserted that there are many unreported cases of doctors who are being held in captivity by their abductors across the country.
He stated, “Some people have decided that they won’t use the kidnap of their colleagues to make the news for security reasons.
“Maybe at this juncture, I should add that in a particular North Central State, at least two doctors are currently in captivity, one for an upward of one year now. The second one happened only recently, just a week ago. The story is the same across the entire country.
“It has gotten to a state that doctors themselves, having been patient for too long despite the unfavourable situation in the country, are becoming patients, no thanks to their ordeals in the hands of these hoodlums.”
Also, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria urged the federal government to put an end to the incessant abduction of health workers across the country.
The association’s national president, Rosemary Ogu, frowned at the alarming trend of kidnappers targeting medical practitioners who dedicate their lives to serving others.
The MWAN president questioned why health workers, who were not wealthy and spend their time caring for others, had become targets for kidnappers.
“The kidnapping of healthcare professionals is a grave injustice that undermines the essential role they play in society.
“This situation is unacceptable, and we will not stand by in silence while our colleagues are subjected to such terror,” she lamented.
