Nigerian Doctors Threaten Strike Over Brutal Attack on Female Colleague in Ogun Hospital
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a stern warning of potential industrial action following a violent assault on a female House Officer at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, Ogun State. The association expressed profound outrage and unequivocal condemnation of what it described as a shocking and barbaric physical attack.
Details of the Assault Incident
In a strongly-worded statement released on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, NARD revealed that the attack was reportedly carried out by approximately seven men identified as students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Saapade. The incident occurred following the unfortunate death of a patient in the Accident & Emergency unit, where the victim was identified as part of the medical team that attended to the deceased patient.
The association characterized the assault as a gross violation of human dignity, professional sanctity, and the fundamental safety of healthcare workers. According to the statement, the young female doctor was singled out and brutally attacked while performing her professional duties, an act that NARD declared both unacceptable and intolerable.
Immediate Actions and Demands
In response to what it termed a grievous incident, NARD has taken several decisive measures:
- Immediate Service Withdrawal: All NARD members at OOUTH Sagamu, including House Officers, have been directed to embark on an immediate withdrawal of services until adequate safety assurances are guaranteed.
- Demand for Justice: The association has called for the urgent identification, arrest, and prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack, emphasizing that justice must not only be done but must be visibly demonstrated.
- Institutional Accountability: NARD has demanded that the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic collaborate with security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and appropriately sanctioned. The institution must also take responsibility for its students' actions, including covering medical costs and providing adequate compensation to the assaulted doctor.
- Security Overhaul: The association has called on OOUTH Sagamu management to urgently reinforce security architecture within hospital premises and implement proactive measures to prevent recurrence.
Broader Implications and Warnings
The statement highlighted the disturbing reality that doctors, who already work under extremely challenging conditions including delayed remuneration and overwhelming workloads, now face physical harm while discharging their professional duties. "Hospitals are sanctuaries of healing, not battlegrounds of violence," the association emphasized.
NARD warned that failure to meet these demands promptly could escalate the crisis to regional and national industrial disputes. The association expressed deep solidarity with the entire medical staff at OOUTH Sagamu and pledged full support for all decisions taken in response to the incident.
Call for Government Action
The association extended its deepest sympathy to the assaulted colleague and wished her a swift recovery physically, emotionally, and professionally. NARD reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring her safety, dignity, and justice.
Finally, the association called on government at all levels to urgently prioritize the protection of healthcare workers and enforce strict penalties against acts of violence in healthcare settings. "The safety of doctors is non-negotiable. An injury to one is an injury to all," the statement concluded, adding emphatically: "Enough is Enough. Healthcare workers must be protected. Justice must prevail."
