Kidnapped senior registrar specializing in ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola,has finally regained her freedom after a grueling 10 months in captivity.
Abducted on December 27, 2023, Dr. Popoola was taken alongside her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who lived with them.
While her husband secured his release on March 8, 2024, after protracted negotiations with the kidnappers, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remained in confinement.
The protracted situation prompted escalating concerns within Nigeria’s medical community, highlighting the urgent need for reinforced security for citizens, especially frontline healthcare workers who often operate in volatile areas.
On October 30, 2024, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors President, Dr. Tope Osundara, confirmed to Daily Trust that Dr. Popoola and her nephew had been released.
In his phone interview, Osundara disclosed that she had been insulated from the public following her release to allow for a period of rest and recovery, noting, “Yes, it is true. It happened today (Wednesday). For now, we have insulated her from the public, allowing only limited access to her.”
In response to speculations surrounding the negotiations, Osundara clarified that no ransom was paid, saying, “No ransom was paid at all.”
Though Dr. Popoola’s release was confirmed, official corroboration was initially awaited.
Spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, stated that he had yet to confirm her release but promised to provide verified details as soon as they were available.
Her prolonged captivity cast a spotlight on the precarious security situation in Nigeria, igniting a widespread appeal within the medical community.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors spearheaded a social media campaign under the hashtag “#BringBackDrGaniyat” to rally support for her release.
In August 2024, escalating frustration prompted members of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital in Abuja to stage a peaceful protest, raising awareness about the deteriorating security conditions and urging authorities to expedite Dr. Popoola’s rescue.
Demonstrators held placards with messages like “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.”
Simultaneously, a protest was organized in Ogun State by resident doctors at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu. During the demonstration, Dr. Lanre-Aremo Babajide, the ARD President at the hospital, issued an ultimatum, declaring that the doctors would proceed with an indefinite strike starting August 26 if Dr. Popoola was not freed.
“Our demand is simple: we want the government to intervene and secure our colleague, Dr Popoola’s, release from captivity,” Babajide emphasized. “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.”
The doctors’ plea for action reached the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who formally petitioned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently prioritize her rescue.
In a letter dated August 12, Pate outlined the anguish within the medical community and underscored the need for a decisive government response.
Since the abduction, Dr. Popoola’s family occasionally received brief reassurances from the kidnappers regarding her and her nephew’s welfare.
The last such contact was on July 24, 2024, when the captors allowed family members to speak with them to confirm that they were still alive.
Prof. Pate’s letter poignantly stated, “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.”
Dr. Popoola’s release, while a relief, underscores the urgent need for improved security measures to protect vulnerable citizens and essential workers, particularly in regions prone to violent crimes.
