By Daniel Njienue, April 11, 2020, news/comments.
DELTA-With the alleged police harassment of doctors in the Delta state capital, Asaba, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Asaba, Dr. Victor Osiatuma while speaking with Afrikanwatch Network on a telephone yesterday confirmed the incident and said that, a doctor while on his way home after a close of work was stopped by a police officer which resulted to an argument. According to him, the issued is already with the State Police Command, Asaba. His words:
“Well, yesterday, a doctor was going home, and he was stopped by some policemen for him to identify himself, in Asaba, which he did, but unfortunately, there were some altercation , and he was refused access, but they tried to resolve the matter. Again, argument and right persisted, here and there. But we have been on the matter since yesterday with the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, and he has assured us of maximum cooperation. I think what happened could be as a result of gap in communication”,
Meanwhile, all effort to get the State Police Public Relations officer proved abortive, as message sent to his telephone line yielded no answer.
It could recall that the President of the association of resident doctors, , (FMC), Asaba Chapter, Dr Nwabunor Osifo had told press men on Friday that the action of the Nigerian Police should be condemned in totality against the efforts of Doctors, in saving lives in this lockdown, and such harassment by men of the force negated human’s value, stating that even when doctors show police officers valid Identification Cards, they still harass our members. A wrong signal, he noted.
Continuing, he said “Things fell apart and sadly enough, our were members were teargased. Yes, doctors were teargased. “In protest to this, we are embarking on indefinite and total shutdown. As doctors we are not callous, we feel for everyone,” Osifo said.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa has kicked against the action of his men, and tagged their unprofessional act as, against the order of the Inspector General of Police, and said that the two police officers involved have been arrested to explain their action. He later appealed to the doctors to remain calm.
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