From Judex Okoro, Calabar
KIDNAPPERS of the University of Calabar staff have demanded N60 million as ransom from the family members.
Two staff of UNICAL, Mrs Ndifon and Dr. David Ini Ama (nurse and medical doctor) respectively with UCTH as well as the little daughter of Mrs Ndifon were, on Monday, abducted by gunmen.
The kidnappers were said to have stormed the university staff quarters in a speedboat, opened fire and later whisked away their victims through the Obufa Esuk River adjoining the staff quarters at about 8.00pm.
But 48 hours after, the abductors demanded N60 million before the three of them could be released.
Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the kidnappers called yesterday demanding that each of the two families should pay N30 million as ransom to secure their release.
Condemning the act, Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), University of Calabar branch, Dr. Offiong Ikpeme, described the abduction, as barbaric and wondered why doctors whose responsibility was to save life had become targets of kidnappers.
Ikpeme told newsmen in her office yesterday that NMA would meet other affiliate unions in the hospital and the university to find a way of getting their members out from the kidnappers’ den.
She said if all entreaties failed, the NMA and other unions might be forced to down tools to protest the assault on their members, disclosing that three of their colleagues had already got threat messages to be kidnapped if they don’t cooperate.
The chairman said: “We condemn strongly the kidnapping of our colleagues and a little daughter by hoodlums. We got information that Dr. David was shot on the foot before they took him away. This is worrisome because we are afraid of his health situation.”