Medical doctor shot as anti-concessioning protest turns bloody in Imo

The victim, Dr. Bede Azudialor, a Consultant
Physician with the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri,
was allegedly shot in the head by riot policemen
drafted to monitor the demonstration by the doctors

A member of the Imo State branch of the Nigeria
Medical Association participating in a peaceful
demonstration against the concessioning of public
health institutions by Governor Rochas Okorocha was
on Thursday shot in the head.

The victim, Dr.
Bede Azudialor, a Consultant
Physician with the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri,
was allegedly shot in the head by riot policemen
drafted to monitor the demonstration by the doctors.


The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the victim
was first rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal
Medical Centre, Owerri, from where he was moved
to the intensive care unit and thereafter relocated to
an undisclosed hospital.


The state Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Medical
Doctors, Dr. Darlington Akukwu, who briefed
newsmen on the incident in Owerri, announced the
commencement of a three-day warning strike by
doctors in the state following the incident.


Akukwu said: “Following the shooting of our member,
doctors in Imo State will from today commence a
three-day warning strike during which the Nigerian
Police Force must name the policeman that shot our
member.


“The warning strike, beginning from February 4, will
last for three days and if after the expiration of three
days, the person who shot at our colleague fails to
come out, doctors will start an indefinite strike
action.”


Akukwu urged the Inspector-General of Police,
Solomon Arase, to compel the Commissioner of
Police in the state, Taiwo Lakanu, to produce the
culprit who perpetrated the act.


Akukwu further urged President Muhammadu Buhari
to thoroughly investigate the matter.
NAN learnt that the march was organised by the NMA
in Imo State to protest what they described as the
“anti-life” policies of Okorocha.


The march was said to have started from the NMA
office on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri at about 12
noon.


It was gathered that when the doctors got to Orlu
Road Junction, Owerri, riot policemen in about 10
Hilux vans started throwing tear gas canisters at the
group, during which a gun was suspected to have
been fired, which injured the doctor.


A source added: “It was in the process of tear gassing
of the group that Dr. Bede Azudiaro fell down and
raised alarm that he had been shot in the head, with
blood gushing from his head.”


Earlier, the state chairman of NMA, Dr. Hyacinth
Emele, had told journalists that the association was
protesting against the concessioning of public health
institutions by the state government.


Emele said: “Despite NMA repeated advice,
government went ahead to concession virtually all
the state public health institutions from primary to
tertiary (health centre, general hospitals and Imo
State Specialist Hospitals, and Imo State University
Teaching Hospital) and their management.


“The state will stand to lose completely from the
assistance of donor agencies and partners like the
WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, Global Fund
among others that sponsor immunization, malaria,
tuberculosis, family planning and HIV/AIDS services
to these institutions.”


The NMA chairman equally condemned it and the
appointment of a non-doctor as Commissioner of
Health and the merging of Ministry of Health and
Women Affairs by Okorocha.


Emele also decried the use of armed thugs to attack
workers at their duty posts.


He said: “The use of task force to regulate medical
practice in Imo is against Medical and Dental Council
of Nigeria.”


The NMA chairman raised the alarm over the illicit
harvesting and trafficking of human organs currently
on going in the state, adding: “Lives of residents of
Imo State are at great risk over this evil practice.”


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in
the state, DSP Andrew Enwerem, said the police only
used tear gas to disperse the protesting doctors when
they became riotous.


Enwerem said: “Police did not shoot anybody and
nobody who is shot on the head will ever remain
alive.


“Let them produce a doctor’s report to confirm that it
was a real case of shooting on the head.
“Anybody can pick any blood stained material from
anywhere and claim that he was shot.”


NAN.