Abducted Kaduna doctor and her nephew freed after 10 months in captivity

Thursday, October 31, 2024 -Abducted Kaduna-based medical doctor, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, has regained freedom after 10 months in captivity.

Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna State, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, who is a Squadron leader, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who stays with them.

After several negotiations with the kidnappers, the husband was released on March 8, 2024, but the doctor and Abdul-Mugniy were held back. 

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had embarked on a series of protests nationwide and repeatedly made calls on the Federal Government to secure release of the doctor.

NARD on August 26, embarked on a 7-day warning strike to press for the release of Dr. Popoola.

The association called off the warning strike on September 2, after the FG threatened to enforce “no work, no pay policy”

The female doctor and her nephew were, however, released on Wednesday evening by the captors.

The President of NARD, Tope Zenith Osundara, confirmed the release in a telephone interview with Daily Trust 

“Yes, it is true. It happened today (Wednesday). For now, we have insulated her away from people, we only allow very limited access to her,” Osundara said. 

 When asked how much was paid to secure her freedom, he responded “No ransom was paid at all.”