By Ayomide Otitoju
Doctors in Edo State have suspended medical services across several local government areas as they continue their strike over the abduction of a colleague, Dr. Ibrahim Babatunde.
Despite assurances from security agencies that efforts to secure his release are ongoing, the striking doctors said they could no longer work under constant fear and uncertainty. The industrial action has caused major disruptions in hospitals, affecting patients and families who rely on critical medical care.
A relative of a patient who recently underwent an amputation described the strike as “distressing,” highlighting the impact on those in urgent need of treatment.
Speaking to Channels Television, Dr. Paul Evbuomwan, Chairman of the Association of Resident Doctors at Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City, called on security agencies to intensify protection for health workers and residents. “Health workers face constant threats, and we can no longer operate under such conditions,” he said.
The strike has left many hospitals operating at minimal capacity, raising concerns about access to essential medical services in the state.
Security threats against health workers have increased in recent years, with kidnappings of medical professionals becoming more frequent. In November 2025, Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) in Nnewi, Anambra State, was abducted by gunmen after performing complex neurosurgical operations.
Similarly, in 2023, doctors in Cross River State withdrew services following the abduction of a colleague from her residence in Calabar, underscoring the growing insecurity faced by medical personnel across the country.
