DSS forcefully dispersed Doctors taking part in Saudi Arabia Recruitment Exercise — Report

On Thursday, Department of State Services agents dispersed medical doctors who gathered at the Sheraton Hotels in Abuja to participate in a Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health employment interview.

It was reported on Tuesday that hundreds of medical experts flocked to the hotel to take part in the recruitment, with another session planned for Thursday.

According to our sources, DSS agents stormed to the hotel on Thursday morning and dispersed the Doctors and journalists who had gathered there.

Marcus Fatunde, a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, was detained at the event.

He however was released later.

An eyewitness told reporters, “When I came here, we saw the DSS operatives dispersing the people that came for the interview and before we knew it, everywhere had been scattered.

“A journalist with the ICIR, Marcus Fatunde, was also arrested, but he has been released.”

A doctor, who spoke anonymously said, “Some of us, who came here today, came because we don’t even have jobs and we don’t want to do the wrong things.

“Two categories of people were here today: the jobless ones and the ones who are poorly remunerated.

“We didn’t commit any crime; we just wanted a better system. So, why is the government trying to frustrate us?

Adejo Arome, Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, told reporters that the interview’s organisers notified to him that the event had been cancelled.

He said, “Well, some people got to the venue today (Thursday) and when they didn’t meet anyone, they called me and I confirmed from the recruiters and some other doctors that the recruitment has been suspended.

“The recruitment on Tuesday garnered coverage, because of the media publicity. It was everywhere that doctors were going to Saudi Arabia.

“The recruiters had to suspend it because the Federal Government said it felt embarrassed by the news.

“It is a big shame. The government has no right to infringe on the right of the citizens to choose to go to another country. If the system is not working, let them go to another country.”

Efforts to reach the DSS spokesman for comments on the incident has been abortive.