Medical doctors on Wednesday began an indefinite strike following the kidnap of their colleague, Dr Godwin Udo.

It was gathered that Udo, of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was kidnapped on Sunday at his residence on Bateba Street around 7.30pm.

An eyewitness said about five kidnappers snatched the victim while he was driving into his compound.

A family source said the kidnappers called around 2am on Tuesday and demanded N7m ransom.

Reacting to the incident on Wednesday at a news conference, the Chairman of the Cross River State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Innocent Abang, said doctors had begun an indefinite strike and would not call it off until he was released.

He said, “He was taken from his home around 7.30pm when there was no movement. How did that happen? This happened at Bateba. Soldiers are in that area enforcing curfew.

“Our colleague must be released unconditionally. Security agencies should know who the kidnappers are. The curfew should be reviewed if someone could be abducted during curfew.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the abduction of Udo, adding that “the command is working round the clock to track down the abductors.”