Dr. Orockarrah Orock, a resident doctor affiliated with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, has managed to escape from his captors. Dr. Orock, who works in the Anaesthesia Department at UNTH, was abducted on the night of November 4, 2023, while on call duty within the hospital premises.
Dr. Celestine Ugwoke, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Enugu State, confirmed this miraculous escape. It appears that the kidnappers, after receiving a ransom from Dr. Orock's wife, became incapacitated due to intoxication and fell into a deep sleep, allowing him the opportunity to crawl away and eventually reach a point where he could reconnect with the outside world.
Dr. Ugwoke expressed gratitude for Dr. Orock's escape but raised concerns about the safety of doctors in the state. Kidnappers have increasingly targeted medical professionals, especially those working in tertiary health institutions. He warned that if any more doctors from UNTH were abducted, they would go on strike, and this warning would extend to other tertiary hospitals in the state.
The NMA intends to meet with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UNTH to establish a security protocol for the hospital, including enhancing security within the facility, installing perimeter fencing, and implementing a CCTV system for monitoring. Dr. Ugwoke also expressed frustration with the government's response to the security concerns faced by doctors, noting that previous efforts to address the issue had not yielded results. He warned that doctors might resort to protests if their safety concerns were not addressed promptly
