The planned peaceful demonstration by medical practitioners to protest against the state of Health care system in Imo State, turned awry as a Consultant Family Physician in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, FMC, Dr. Bende Azudialo, was allegedly shot in the head by a policeman.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Hyacinth Emele, has now ordered a 3-day warning strike with effect from today. He said: “If the policeman that fired the lethal shot is not identified and prosecuted, doctors will commence indefinite industrial action.
The security agencies and Imo State Government should note that all hospitals in the state will close shop thereafter until the erring policeman is fished out and punished.”
Speaking also, Dr. Darlington Akukwu recalled how the NMA formally wrote the Commissioner of Police, the Directorate of State Security, DSS, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and all other related agencies to inform them about the peaceful protest.
He said: “We processed peacefully until we got to Orlu Road Roundabout. The police barricaded the road and when we tried to explain our mission to them, they started firing teargas canisters. One of them later fired a shot that wounded Dr. Azudialo.”