THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has raised concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, warning that unresolved issues following the assault of a female doctor in Ogun State could spark a wider industrial action.
In a statement signed by its president, Mohammad Usman Suleiman, the association described the incident at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, as more than an isolated case, pointing instead to deeper security and institutional failures within the country’s healthcare system.
NARD strongly condemned the attack, calling it shocking, inhumane, and a violation of both professional standards and human dignity.
The victim, a house officer, was reportedly targeted and attacked after being identified as part of the medical team that attended to a patient who later died at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency unit.
The perpetrators were said to be a group of individuals allegedly linked to Gateway ICT Polytechnic.
The association stressed that the incident reflects a troubling trend of hospitals becoming unsafe spaces for medical professionals, despite the challenging conditions under which they already work.
In response, NARD has directed its members at OOUTH Sagamu to immediately withdraw their services until adequate security measures are put in place. It also called for the swift arrest and prosecution of those responsible, insisting that justice must be visibly served.
Additionally, the association called on the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic to cooperate with security agencies and take responsibility by ensuring accountability and covering the victim’s medical expenses, alongside appropriate compensation.
NARD further called on the hospital management to urgently strengthen security within its premises and address broader welfare concerns affecting doctors.
The association warned that failure to meet these demands could escalate the situation into a nationwide industrial dispute. While expressing solidarity with its members, it also extended support to the injured doctor and called on authorities at all levels to prioritise the protection of healthcare workers.
