To protest the death of one of its members, Dr. Uyi Iluobe, by gunmen who assaulted his hospital, Olive Clinic, in Oghareki in the Ethiope West Local Government Area on New Year's Eve, the Nigerian Medical Association, South-South Zone has threatened to close all hospitals in Delta State.

In a statement on Tuesday, Dr. Collins Otoikhila, Secretary of the NMA Edo State Branch's South-South Caucus, and Dr. Udoka Imoisili, Chairman of the branch's South-South caucus, vowed to start a one-week hospital closure in the state.

The statement read in part, “While we mourn the unfortunate murder of our colleague, we wish to assure all our members in the South-South zone that we shall pursue this case to its logical conclusion. We will not spare anything to ensure that Dr Uyi lluobe and his family get justice.

“While the South-South caucus/zone in conjunction with the Delta State branch of NMA is working hard to unravel the circumstances behind this unwarranted murder of a dutiful medical doctor, the zone strongly condemns this dastardly act and in the interim, resolves as follows:

“That the relevant security agencies step up their efforts to arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime within five days, after which the South- South caucus may not be able to guarantee the rendering of normal medical services in the entire South-South zone.

“That members of all NMA state branches in the South-South zone should henceforth put on black arm bands throughout this week to mourn our colleague.”