THE National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, following a thorough security briefing, officially handed over the freed medical doctor, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, and her nephew to their family at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State today.
The handover took place in the presence of Dr. Bala Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration process.
The ceremony included representatives from the Defence Headquarters, the Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
During the event, security officials emphasized their efforts in securing Dr. Ganiyat’s release and shared updates on related operations, including the recent rescue of abducted medical students.
In his remarks, Dr. Audu expressed gratitude to the security agencies led by the NSA for their dedication and urged them to intensify efforts to rescue other Nigerians, including medical professionals, who remain in captivity.
The family expressed their deep appreciation to the Federal Government, NMA, NARD, and all Nigerian doctors for their steadfast support during this difficult time.
Dr. Popoola, a Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, was kidnapped alongside her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, a military officer, and her nephew, Folaranmi-Abdul-Mugni, who resides with them.
The captors initially demanded a ransom of N40 million, which was reportedly paid. After this, they released her husband on March 8, 2024, but retained Dr. Popoola and her nephew until their release on Wednesday evening, ending their harrowing ordeal.
