Fear has gripped the Iweha family and Umuopara community in Abia State as the former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Prof Uwadinachi Iweha is yet to be released by his abductors.
This is even after a source from Umuopara claimed that financial ransom as demanded by the kidnappers had already been paid to them by Prof Iweha’s family.
The 74-year-old Iweha was kidnapped by some unknown persons on June 6 while driving out from his community and taken to unknown place and has not been seen thereafter.
The family source, who spoke on the unclear fate of the medical doctor, raised the fear about his safety as he was yet to released while the kidnappers were yet to tell them where to pick him.
The family source added that their apprehension was made worse by the fact that their father was on regular drugs before his abductors.
Heappealed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led government to do everything possible to secure the former ABSUTH CMD as he was already battling some health challenges before kidnappers attacked him.
Members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Abia State, led by Dr Chimezie Okwuonu (Chairman) had staged protests in Umuahia and Aba in demand of their colleague’s freedom.
They also withdrew their services for three days but later returned to duties, with a threat to embark on an indefinite strike if the elderly doctor was not released.
Abia State government in its latest statement on the matter promised a N5m reward for anyone or group of person(s) that could provide valuable information that could lead to the rescue of the former CMD and also the arrest of his abductors.
The Abia State government in the statement signed by Chris Ezem, Secretary to the State government (SSG) vowed that every useful measure and resources would be applied in arresting the kidnappers and rescuing of the abducted doctor.
However, the community source who spoke under anonymity expressed deep fear about the safety of Dr Iweha, who according to him was already managing some health challenges before the bandits took him away in his SUV car to unknown place.
The community source who lamented that that the kidnappers did not released their captive after collecting money, also expressed worry about the doctor’s life, especially at this period when some kidnapped victims are killed and dumped inside bush or on the road.
