The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has directed its state branches nationwide to demand the identification and prosecution of security operatives involved in the alleged harassment of doctors, subsequent to claims that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) assaulted and detained medical personnel at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State.
The directive was issued by the National Officers Committee of the NMA after what it described as the alleged “assault, brutalisation, arrest, and detention” of Professor Eyo Ekpe, Director of Clinical Medical Services and Administration at UUTH, alongside other doctors.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by the association’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof Olayinka Atilola, the NMA condemned the alleged conduct of the operatives, which it described as “reckless and barbaric.”
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The association said the incident reportedly occurred within the premises of the public hospital while medical personnel were carrying out their professional duties.
The statement said, “The National Officers Committee has begun high-level engagements to get to the root of this matter and seek redress at the highest quarters.”
The NMA added that it would not tolerate what it termed “continuing harassment of doctors in any form whatsoever.”
As part of measures taken in response to the incident, the association directed all state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branches to insist on the identification and prosecution of law enforcement agents accused of unlawfully harassing doctors in the course of duty.
According to the directive, such demands should constitute the “minimum condition for truce” whenever similar incidents arise.
The NMA also declared its support for actions already taken by its Akwa Ibom State branch regarding the matter, including “all lawful measures” aimed at seeking redress.
While criticising the alleged actions of the operatives, the association clarified that it was not opposing legitimate law enforcement activities.
The statement read, “It must, however, be noted, by all law enforcement agencies and members of public, that nothing in this directive suggests that law enforcement agents should not carry out their lawful duties.”
The association maintained that security operations involving medical personnel should be conducted in line with “the highest ethical standards for law enforcement, rule of law, decorum and common decency expected of modern law enforcement establishments.”
The EFCC had yet to publicly respond to the allegations contained in the statement as of the time of filing this report.
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