Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a resident medical doctor at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State, Nigeria, has been freed after enduring 10 months in captivity. Dr. Popoola, a Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology, was abducted in December 2023 by bandits alongside her husband, military officer Nurudeen Popoola, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugni, who resides with them.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N40 million, which was paid. However, only her husband was released on March 8, 2024, while Dr. Popoola and her nephew remained in captivity. Finally, on Wednesday evening, both Dr. Popoola and Abdul-Mugni were released, marking the end of their harrowing ordeal.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), expressed profound joy over their release and extended gratitude to everyone who contributed to their safe return. The abduction of Dr. Popoola and her family members underscores the ongoing issue of kidnapping and ransom demands in Nigeria, sparking further concerns about security in the region.
