Medical doctor dies in kidnappers’ den in Rivers •As abductors of Amaechi’s aide ask for N100m ransom

Samuel Okpara, a medical practitioner, who was kidnapped from his private hospital in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last week, has died in the hands of his kidnappers.

Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Furo Green, confirmed the death of the medical doctor in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

According to him, body of Dr Okpara was found behind the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, where it was dumped.

It will be recalled that medical doctors in the state, under the aegies of NMA, had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike, following frequent abduction of its members in the state.

In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, had expressed concern over the recent increase in the spate of kidnapping of medical doctors in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, he said the trend would impact negatively on the feat achieved by the state government in the health sector.

“What do they want from doctors whose job is to save lives?

“How do you expect a doctor to work with a clear mind? How can a doctor attend to a patient without thinking such a person is a kidnapper?

“We should all condemn this upsurge in kidnapping. We must help the police and other law enforcement agencies to stop these kidnappers. The perpetrators live among us; we must be ready to give information about them,” he said.

In a related development, the kidnappers of Mr Freddy Ndigbara, an aide of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, have demanded for a ransom of N100 million before he could regain his freedom.

A source close to his family told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the kidnappers had contacted the family and made the demand, which they said must be met before he could breathe the air of freedom.

Ndigbara is a staff of the Rivers State Council of Arts and Culture, but was seconded to the Press Unit of Government House, Port Harcourt.

He was kidnapped last Saturday from his hometown, Kaani 1 community, in Khana Local Government Area of the state while preparing for a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the community.

Rivers Statev Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the death of Dr Okpara, saying his remains was discovered on Tuesday behind GCSS, Borokiri, by men of the state police command.

He also confirmed the rescue of two other medical doctors who were kidnapped in Port Harcourt about the same time the late medical doctor was kidnapped.

The PPRO, however, denied knowledge of any contact between the kidnappers of Ndigbara and his family, leading to the demand for a ransom, but said men of the command were currently on the trail of the kidnappers.