Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo chapter, on Monday, June 15, 2026, launched a mass protest, shutting down clinical services at the tertiary health institution and its Akure Annex, citing the hospital management’s failure to provide adequate security or ensure the arrest and prosecution of a patient’s wife who allegedly slapped, manhandled and brutalised a doctor on call at the Akure Annex more than two weeks ago. The protest escalated a 72‑hour warning strike that had ended on June 3 without a satisfactory resolution, and the doctors are now demanding an urgent overhaul of security arrangements, particularly in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, where they say health workers are most vulnerable to violence.
The Assault And Unmet Demands
The incident that triggered the industrial action occurred on Saturday, May 30, 2026, when a doctor on call at the Akure Annex of FMC Owo was attacked by the wife of a male patient. According to a communiqué signed by ARD President, Dr. Adeola Oluwadamilola, and Secretary‑General, Dr. Dare Aderemi, the doctor was repeatedly slapped and violently manhandled by the woman and the patient. The ARD said that following the initial attack, individuals later stormed the hospital in search of the physician, forcing staff members to move him to a secure location. The union lamented that physical aggression against healthcare workers has become a “recurring decimal” at FMC Owo, noting that the May 30 incident was the second time a medical doctor had been publicly attacked at the facility in less than six months. In response, the ARD declared a 72‑hour total warning strike that began at 8 a.m. on May 31, giving management explicit conditions for an amicable resolution: the immediate deployment of adequate armed security personnel, the arrest and prosecution of the fleeing female assailant, a public apology published in a national daily, and the payment of heavy damages to the traumatised physician. However, more than two weeks after the strike ended, the union said the institution’s management had failed to fulfil any of those terms.
Protest Turns To Shutdown
As a result, the doctors reviewed their strategy and opted for a mass protest action on Monday, June 15, that has effectively shut down clinical services. “Another strike was supposed to commence last Wednesday but the association resolved to use another approach which is protest,” a doctor from the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity told SaharaReporters. “So the association will be protesting on Monday against assault on doctors within FMC Owo. The aim is for the management to provide security within the hospital, particularly A&E.” The doctor noted that due to severe brain drain – the ‘Japa’ wave – many federal medical centres are acutely understaffed, leading to extended waiting times at A&E units and creating a tense atmosphere that often explodes into violence.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has thrown its weight behind the protest action, condemning the attack and warning that persistent violence against health workers threatens the nation’s healthcare system. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Secretary‑General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, NARD described the incident as criminal and unacceptable. The national body alleged that the attackers tore the doctor’s clothes, repeatedly slapped him, and subjected him to degrading treatment. It also claimed that individuals connected to the incident later invited thugs to continue the assault and threatened the doctor’s life. NARD demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all involved, improved security measures in health facilities, compensation and psychological support for the victim, and warned that failure by authorities to address the issue could lead to wider industrial action across the country.
A Pattern Of Impunity
The ARD’s communiqué noted that the latest attack is the second of its kind at the institution this year. In February 2026, NARD had condemned a separate assault on another doctor at FMC Owo, demanding immediate compensation for the pain and trauma he suffered. The recurrence of such violence in a single facility in such a short span has alarmed medical professionals, who fear that without decisive action, the attacks will continue.
The Oyo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health have been silent on the incident, and the Nigeria Police Force has not announced any arrests or confirm an investigation into the matter. As of Monday evening, clinical services at FMC Owo and its Akure Annex remained disrupted, leaving hundreds of patients stranded. The management of the hospital has yet to respond to repeated requests for comment, and the doctor who was assaulted has not been made available to the press.
Wider Concerns Over Healthcare Violence
The protest at FMC Owo is the latest in a string of such incidents across Nigeria. The ARD’s warning strike earlier in June highlighted a broader trend: verbal abuse has escalated into physical assaults, destruction of valuables, invasion of call rooms, intimidation with weapons, and coordinated attacks on health workers on duty. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has repeatedly called for a national framework to protect healthcare workers, including legal deterrents against violence in hospitals and the designation of health facilities as “safe zones.” The union has issued a 21‑day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement such measures, warning that it cannot guarantee industrial harmony if the demands are not met.
The assault on the doctor at the Akure Annex is a reminder that while bandits and terrorists dominate the headlines, the health system itself is under siege from within. The doctors of FMC Owo are not asking for a pay rise; they are asking not to be beaten while saving lives.
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