The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Zamfara has given the state government a two-week ultimatum to check the increased rate of insecurity in the state.
The NMA issued the warning on Saturday after its State Emergency Executive council meeting in Gusau, the state capital, adding that failure to do so will result in medical workers closing by 6pm daily.
The latest development is as a result of the recent abduction of a health worker of General Hospital in Dansadau Emirate, Maru Local Government Area of the state by bandits.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Mannir Bature said the report he got was that the bandits were specifically looking for doctors and nurses in the hospital, lamenting that it was worrisome for medical practitioners in the state.
He asked the government to work with security agencies to provide adequate and special security to secure all health facilities and to protect healthcare workers across the state to enable them to carry out their constitutional duties without fear of being attacked by bandits.
The NMA boss also asked security agencies to boost intelligence gathering with a view to taming the activities of bandit’s informants within the communities, which he believes are responsible for the escalating security challenges in the state.