The night was meant to end quietly for Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, a dedicated neurosurgeon at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi. After hours of back-to-back surgeries, he finally left the hospital for home — exhausted but fulfilled. But just before he could reach safety, unknown gunmen intercepted him at Omaha Junction, Uruagu Nnewi, and whisked him away into the shadows.
The news hit the medical community like a thunderclap. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, called the abduction “a direct assault on Nigeria’s national health security.” His words cut deep — not only because of the gravity of the crime but because of what it symbolizes for a country already struggling with a shrinking healthcare workforce.
Nigeria, with over 220 million people, has fewer than 150 practicing neurosurgeons. “That’s roughly one neurosurgeon for every 1.9 million Nigerians,” Salako lamented. “When one is taken, it’s not just a personal loss — it’s a national crisis.” He described the kidnapping as a painful reminder of how unsafe even those saving lives have become.
Dr. Mbanugo’s colleagues were left shaken. The abductors, according to hospital insiders, have begun reaching out using the doctor’s phone, hinting at ransom demands. For now, the family and medical community wait in anguish — caught between fear and hope.
Security agencies — including the Anambra State Police Command, DSS, and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad — have launched an investigation, working closely with local vigilante groups. The hospital’s management has also joined forces with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to coordinate efforts for his safe release.
Salako emphasized that doctors, nurses, and all healthcare workers are “national assets who must be protected.” His appeal wasn’t just a policy statement — it was a cry for help. “He was kidnapped at the very point where he should have been safest — returning home after serving humanity,” he said.
As the search continues, one truth remains clear: Nigeria’s healthcare system cannot afford to lose even one more hero. Dr. Mbanugo’s disappearance isn’t just another kidnapping — it’s a chilling reminder that those who heal us are no longer safe among us.
