The solution to kidnapping seems to have eluded security agencies in Benin as another medical doctor, Osaro Osifo, was on Monday night kidnapped by unknown gunmen at his residence along Nekpen-nekpen Street, Benin City.

The kidnapped doctor is attached to the Dentistry department of the Central Hospital, Benin City.

Reports have it that the family has been contacted and a million naira ransom demanded.

However, members of the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) are warming up to embark on a strike if the doctor is not released by today.

State chairman of NMA, Osahon Enabulele, who confirmed the kidnapping, said the family members are looking for the ransom fee, as the kidnappers have threatened to kill their victim if the ransom was not paid as at last night.

“We will stop out-patient services and only attend to patients already admitted and emergency cases, until our colleague is released alive unconditionally,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Clifford Eweka Street of Airport Road in Benin City, woke up last week Thursday to discover a decomposing body of a young man believed to be in his late twenties in an uncompleted building along the street.

The residents, who still live in fear following several attacks by unidentified gun men around its environs, said their attention was drawn to the corpse by some youths in the area who play football behind the uncompleted building.

Killed youth

The victim, according to a youth in the area, was seriously battered by those who murdered him. The source said the death of the young man must be connected with the recent clashes between two rival cult groups (Eyee confraternity and Blackaxe) in Benin City who were fightihg for supremacy.

Residents in the area said they no longer sleep with two eyes closed, owing to several gunshots that are fired at night. The state police public relations officer, Peter Ogboi, said the command was yet to be informed about the incident and promised to contact the nearest police station for adequate investigations.

“We call on residents in the area to always alert the police whenever they notice any strange movement in their area,” Mr. Ogboi said.


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