Abducted Edo Doctor Regains Freedom, Struggles to Walk After Release

One of the two medical doctor brothers abducted in Edo State, Dr. Babatunde Ibrahim Abu, has been released by his captors, though he was unable to walk properly at the point of his freedom and had to be physically supported.
Tragically, his brother, Tahir Abu, a newly graduated medical doctor, was killed by the abductors.

The two brothers were kidnapped on January 2, 2026, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Confirmation of Dr. Abu’s release came through an unsigned social media post by the family on Wednesday. The message read:
“DR BABATUNDE IBRAHIM ABU RELEASED!
GOD BE PRAISED!
GOD BE PRAISED!
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
THOSE THAT SHARED IT, DONATED MONEY, AND PRAYED FOR HIS RELEASE FROM THE KIDNAPPERS, MAY GOD REWARD YOUR LABOUR OF LOVE!
WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL.”
Prior to his release, the family had appealed to Nigerians for assistance in raising the ₦100 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
The Edo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also confirmed Dr. Abu’s release late on Wednesday. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Eustace Oseghale, the association said:
“We are pleased to inform the public that our brother and colleague, Dr. Abu Babatunde, has been released.
We give God the glory and thank all stakeholders for their contributions.
Please let us await further directives.”
Earlier, the NMA in Edo State had embarked on a strike action following the abduction. In a statement issued on January 9, 2026, the association announced that the strike would commence on January 10, 2026.
The statement noted that the incident raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals in Edo State, describing it as a threat to lives and healthcare delivery. The NMA demanded the immediate release of their abducted colleagues, improved security measures for residents of the state, and regular engagement between the Edo State Government and NMA Edo on security issues.
The association also warned that healthcare services would be withdrawn statewide if their demands were not met, stressing that a safe working environment is essential for healthcare providers. It urged security agencies to act swiftly, noting that they would be held responsible for the consequences of the industrial action if the situation was not resolved promptly.
…Sourced from The ConclaveNG