By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA— Doctor Taibat Otulana of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu, Ogun State, who was abducted  six days ago by  unknown persons, was released  on  Wednesday  night,  in Ijebu-Ode.

Ogun State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, said   this  yesterday  in Abeokuta.

Otulana,  who is a Consultant Ophthalmologist and senior lecturer at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, was kidnapped last Friday between Imota and Ijebu-Ode while returning from Ikorodu in Lagos State.

The  abductors   were reported to have demanded  N50 million  before she could be released, but later changed  their mind  and released the   doctor after the protest by doctors who shut down the state capital on Wednesday morning.

Speaking with newsmen  Alayaki, said:” I want to tell you formally that after the rally we had yesterday, around  8:30pm  the woman  was released and we have spoken with her  and we have confirmed that she has been released.

“We thank God that she was released safe without any  physical injury. And, we pray that such will not recur in our state any longer, at the same time, we just want to implore our security agencies that they should  beef up security around Ogun State citizens.”

When asked  if ransom was paid before she was released, Alayaki said:” I may not be able to  talk about that, because, even if I ask them they will not tell me that. I am not sure if any ransom was paid or not. I cannot talk about that”.

However, the state Chairman of  Medical  and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, Dr. Olusoji Jagun, explained that  the woman was dropped on the road in Ijebu–Ode about 10 pm  before she was  found and taken to her house by  family members.

Jagun aded that the kidnapped-doctor has been taken to an undisclosed hospital where she was receiving treatment.

He said: “We are excited about her release. She was released between 10 and 11 pm yesterday. She is presently under going medical examination because  of the trauma she had past through. Kidnapping has  been institutionalized in Ogun State, especially in Sagamu”.

While condemning the development, the MDCAN Chairman wondered why the security agencies could not rescue her within five days  that she was abducted.

He said:  “Kidnapping is  already a burden to us.   Government should  double its efforts before it is out of hand.

”It is  a shame that  since five days when the woman was in captivity, nobody could do anything. Even federal  security agency came to us and could  not do anything, because there was nothing to work with.”