Niger State Doctors Vow to Shut Down All Hospitals as 72-Hour Deadline to Save Kidnapped Colleague Nears Expiry

The healthcare system in Niger State is teetering on the edge of a total collapse as medical practitioners issued a final warning to the state government: rescue our colleague or face empty hospital wards. Following an emergency meeting on Monday, the Niger State branch of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) declared that they would no longer tolerate the “targeted victimization” of their members by terrorists and kidnappers.

The crisis was ignited by the abduction of Dr. Tony Eghagagara, a senior official at the New Bussa General Hospital, who was snatched from his private clinic in the Borgu Local Government Area nearly two weeks ago. Despite repeated pleas for government intervention, the doctor remains in the “trenches” of captivity. In a communiqué signed by Chairman Mustapha Aliyu, the association made it clear that their patience has run out. “We are shutting down the system without exception if our colleague is not returned,” the statement warned.

This isn’t just about one man; it’s a boiling point for a profession that feels under siege. The doctors pointed to the recent killing of a nurse in Kagara and the frequent raids on rural hospitals as evidence that the “white coat” no longer offers any protection. They are demanding that the government stop giving excuses and start providing dedicated security escorts for those on the frontlines of service delivery, especially during on-call periods.

As the clock ticks toward the midnight Tuesday deadline, residents across the state are bracing for the fallout. If the strike proceeds, every government-run medical facility will be deserted, leaving thousands of patients stranded. The association has also called on the state to take full responsibility for the welfare of Dr. Eghagagara’s family, who have been left in a state of “mounting frustration” and despair.

With the 2027 transition cycle beginning to loom over governance, the pressure is on the administration to deliver a “digital-age” security response that ensures the safe return of the medic. For now, the stethoscopes are being laid down, and the next few hours will determine if the hospitals remain open or if the gates are locked in protest.