Delta Curfew: NMA, Military Row Resolved Amicably – Health Commissioner

By Donald Ojebo
The Delta State Government has resolved the row between the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Delta State Chapter and officers of the Nigeria Army as a result of the manhandling by Army personnel of a medical doctor who was on his way to work.

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, made this known today in a statement in Asaba.

According to the statement, following a tripartite meeting comprising officials of the State Government, Nigeria Medical Association, Delta State Chapter and the Army the matter has been put to rest and the earlier threat of strike action by the Association shelved.

The truce was achieved after the military representatives expressed regrets over the actions of the erring army officers, apologized to the doctors and gave assurance that the unfortunate incident will not repeat itself.

It would be recalled that on Saturday, October 24, 2020, Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia, a Consultant Physician at the Central Hospital Warri, was reportedly assaulted by a team of Army personnel at Airport junction, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area while on his way to work and after properly identifying himself on the ground that he was in breach of the curfew imposed in the State by the State Government.

The assault on the medical doctor by the military officers did not go down well with members of the NMA, Delta State Chapter which led to her leadership’s threat to embark on a strike action if nothing was done about the matter.

The statement called on all health workers to always carry with them valid means of identification and cooperate with the security personnel. Members of the general public have been called upon to comply with the curfew and any other extant security instructions in force.