Cross River doctor’s whereabouts unknown five months after abduction
Months after the abduction of Dr. Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, a Neurology professor at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, her whereabouts remain unknown. Despite no concrete information from the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, the state Police Command remains hopeful about her release.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, informed journalists that the command, alongside the Navy, has been actively searching for the doctor since her abduction on July 13 by individuals posing as patients
Ugbo disclosed that efforts to locate and rescue her have been intensified, focusing on the riverine area of the state where she was believed to have been taken.
She said, “We are trying all we can to make sure she is released. We know that the terrain is a waterline area and a little bit difficult for us to patrol. Although we have marine police, we don’t have enough facilities for it.
We are working with the Navy and they are helping us to make sure that she is being rescued. So, what you will do for us is to pray and hope together, that her release will be possible
That was when they (kidnappers) took her to the other side. We are working very hard and the governor also gave us funds that we need for her rescue.”
According to her, efforts to rescue her earlier failed after her family allegedly attempted to pay the ransom demanded without the involvement of the police.
There was a time when ransom was asked, that was when we worked a little with the family members but they did not give us the full details. They first of all took the police out of the show; maybe they thought they could do it on their own.
“Based on our information, the kidnappers found that the police were unto them, and that was when the issue became very difficult, but we are on it and we are not relenting.
