Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has decried the abduction of Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, describing the incident as a grave reflection of the worsening insecurity threatening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Obi made the remarks in a post on his official X account, expressing concern that those who dedicate their lives to saving others are no longer safe in the country.
He said the kidnapping of Dr. Mbanugo, who was abducted shortly after performing a successful brain surgery at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, underscores the deepening crisis of insecurity that continues to endanger professionals across the country.
Obi lamented that such incidents erode public confidence and weaken the morale of medical practitioners already working under immense pressure.
Highlighting Nigeria’s critical shortage of neurosurgeons, Obi noted that in a nation of over 200 million people, there are fewer than 150 brain specialists far below the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of one per 100,000 people.
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He said this gap reflects the sacrifices doctors make daily and the heavy toll insecurity is taking on the country’s healthcare workforce.
He urged security agencies to ensure the immediate and safe release of Dr. Mbanugo while calling on the government to intensify efforts to curb the wave of abductions across Nigeria.
“No nation can develop when its brightest minds live in fear,” Obi said, emphasizing the need to protect those who devote their lives to saving others.
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