The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has condemned the abduction of Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, describing the incident as a direct assault on Nigeria’s national health security and a threat to the country’s collective wellbeing.
Dr Mbanugo was reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, October 30, 2025, around Omatha Junction, Uruagu, Nnewi, while returning home after performing several complex neurosurgical procedures earlier that day.
In a statement, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasised the seriousness of the situation, noting that Nigeria has fewer than 150 practising neurosurgeons for a population exceeding 220 million. This translates to about one neurosurgeon per 1.9 million people, far below the World Health Organization benchmark of one per 100,000. “This makes every specialist we have invaluable. An attack on one specialist doctor is a direct assault on the nation’s health security,” he said.
The ministry added that the abductors later used Dr Mbanugo’s phone to contact some of his colleagues to demand ransom. The incident has been formally reported to the Anambra State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital is working closely with the Nigerian Medical Association and security agencies to ensure Dr Mbanugo’s safe and unconditional release. The ministry reaffirmed its solidarity with his family, colleagues, and the wider health sector, stressing the importance of protecting healthcare workers, who are national assets working under immense pressure to save lives.
Authorities continue to intensify efforts to rescue Dr Mbanugo, and the public has been urged to provide any information that could assist in securing his prompt release. The ministry also called on communities to cooperate with security agencies to prevent such attacks in the future.
