Doctors in Nigerian public hospitals have started a seven-day nationwide strike to demand the release of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held by kidnappers for eight months. The mother of five was taken from her home in the middle of the night on December 27, alongside her husband and a nephew. Her husband was released in March after a ransom was reported­ly paid but the kidnappers held onto the ophthalmologist and her relative. The doctors say they will not even provide emergency care during the strike. They feel that the security agen­cies are not doing enough to secure Dr Poopola's freedom.