The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemed the murder of one of its members, Dr Stephen Urueye.
This condemnation is contained in a statement on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Urueye, undergoing his internship at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was allegedly stabbed to death by some hoodlums in Idi-Araba, where the teaching hospital is located.
The statement was jointly signed by the President and the Publicity Secretary of the association; Drs Olusegun Olaopa and Kefas Breithwaise respectively.
The association described the alleged murder of Urueye as gruesome and unfortunate.
According to the association, the killing of the young doctor constituted a huge loss to the medical profession and to the country in general, especially, at a time when the health sector is bedeviled by manpower shortage.
The body of doctors appealed to the police to ensure that those found guilty of the “heinous” crime should be brought to book.
It also called on the government at all levels to urgently address the increasing spate of insecurity and pockets of violence in different areas across the country.
The statement said, “Dr Urueye was stabbed in front of the hospital, in the evening of Thursday, April 4, 2019, by some unknown men.
“Medical education is a great task and lots of sacrifice to students, parents and even the nation.
“Such great investment should not be allowed to be cut off when Nigerians need the services of young professionals as this, to mitigate the ominous trend in manpower provision for our health sector.
“The spate of insecurity calls to question the premium placed on human life and we wish to re-emphasise that every Nigerian citizen deserves, among other things, the guarantee of safety, whether at work places, on the street or at home.”
The National Association of Resident Doctors also called on the acting Inspector-General of Police to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.
“We also use this medium to call on all stakeholders, including parents and the vulnerable public, to support this clarion call on the security outfits in Nigeria, to ensure that the lives of the average citizens count,” it said.
The association also appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari adminstration to ensure the full implementation of the Basic Package of Health Care Funds in the 2019 appropriation.
It said this would cater for free emergency services, even in the most remote locations in the country.
“This will definitely help our hospitals in providing prompt and effective emergency care to helpless citizens when the need arises.
“We appreciate the prompt response of the management and staff of LUTH to the unfortunate incident.
“We appeal that the capacity of our facilities be improved to cater for the ever-increasing demands in emergency care services,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Police in Lagos State say they have arrested two suspected killers of Urueye.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, who made the disclosure on Friday in Lagos, said the suspects allegedly stabbed the deceased on his right thigh and at the back with a knife while trying to dispossess him of his valuables.
He said: “On April 4, 2019 at about 9.45p.m, Itire Police Station received a distress call that some hoodlums, armed with knives, attacked one Dr Stephen Urueye, a resident doctor with LUTH and dispossessed him of his valuables such as handsets.
“The incident happened around the Canal Area of Ishaga Road, Idi Araba while the victim was going somewhere with his female friend, Simbiat Opeyemi, a 200 level student of the Department of Health Education, Lagos State University,(LASU).
“The victim was rushed to LUTH, Idi Araba where he eventually died in the early hours of April 5.
“Two suspects were arrested in connection with the case and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Zubairu Muazu, directed a Deputy Commissioner of Police to take over the investigation,” the PPRO said.
