By Ovie Okpare
Dr. Emmanuel Okpako, Principal Medical Officer (PMO) of Government Hospital Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has regained from captivity.
The medic regained freedom exactly one week after he was forcefully taken into custody by arms-wielding gunmen in the presence of his wife.
He was kidnapped last Saturday 27/03/2012 at Eku Town in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
Okpako’s abduction forced medical practitioners under the aegis of the National Association of Government General Medical & Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) to declare an indefinite strike in government hospitals in the state.
NAGGMDP, while declaring the strike, lamented what it described as frequent attacks on medical doctors by hoodlums.
ALSO READ: Delta Medical Doctors Commence Indefinite Strike Over Kidnap Of Colleague
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online reliably gathered that the victim was released late Saturday night by his kidnappers.
It was gathered that the family paid undisclosed amount of money as ransom before being allowed to return home.
Several medical doctors in the state confirmed the development to our correspondent on Sunday.
“He’s released on Saturday night. He’s now with his family. We will meet this week to review the indefinite strike declared by our union”, one of the sources told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led state government are yet to react to the development.
