Professor (Mrs) Ekanem Philip-Ephraim who was recently kidnapped in Calabar by unknown gunmen has not been found.
She was reportedly kidnapped from her residence at about 7:15 p.m on Thursday night along the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Atimbo in Calabar Municipality LGA, south south Nigeria.
The Professor of Medicine, until she was taken captive last week, was a member of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Cross River State chapter.
The NMA Cross River State Chapter through its Chairman Dr. Felix Archibong, has reportedly threatened to embark on strike action if their member is not released.
Reports by CrossRiverWatch said the University of Calabar Teaching Hospitals (UCTH) consultant was kidnapped by men who went to her hospital pretended to be patients and when she gave them an audience they brought out weapons and took her away.
He said they are very sure they were kidnappers because they have reached out to the family for ransom. Archibong said the kidnappers are demanding that their victim should give them everything in her bank account.
The NMA chairman who did not disclose the amount demanded by the captors said “Even if it’s 10 Kobo, it is a demand; we are not interested in the money, what they did is that, after assessing her bank account details through her phone, saw the account balance, they demanded that all the money in her bank account should be transferred to them.”
Dr Archibong used the occasion to appeal to Governor Bassey Edet Otu, of Cross River State to come to her rescue and however reiterated that if the victim is not released, medical facilities across the State will be shut down.
“By 1:pm this afternoon, we will declare strike, we will shut down totally; all the hospitals will be shut down.” he said “We want the good people of Cross River State, especially the State Governor to reach out and do the needful, to protect the lives and property of his citizens and release our member unconditionally.”