The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has raised the alarm over what it described as a growing threat to the safety of healthcare workers, warning that failure to address systemic lapses exposed by the recent assault on a female doctor in Ogun State could trigger a broader industrial crisis.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, the association said the incident at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, goes beyond a singular act of violence and reflects deeper institutional and security failures within Nigeria’s health sector.
NARD expressed “strongest outrage and unequivocal condemnation” of the attack, describing it as “shocking and barbaric,” and a “gross violation of human dignity, professional sanctity, and the safety of healthcare workers.”
The association noted that the victim, a female House Officer, was “an innocent, dedicated young doctor” who was “singled out and brutally attacked” after being identified as part of the team that attended to a patient who later died at the Accident and Emergency unit.
“This horrifying incident, reportedly carried out by a group of about seven men alleged to be students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, represents a gross violation,” NARD said.
Rather than focusing solely on the assault, the association stressed the broader implications for the healthcare system, warning that hospitals are increasingly becoming unsafe for medical professionals.
“Hospitals are sanctuaries of healing, not battlegrounds of violence,” the statement read, adding that it is “deeply disturbing that doctors, who continue to render selfless service under extremely challenging conditions — including delayed remuneration and overwhelming workloads — are now subjected to physical harm while discharging their duties.”
NARD said the situation “strikes at the very heart of our healthcare system” and requires “firm and decisive action.”
The association, however, outlined immediate steps already taken in response to the incident, including directing its members at OOUTH Sagamu to withdraw their services.
“In line with our zero-tolerance stance on assaults against our members, all NARD members at OOUTH Sagamu, including House Officers, are hereby directed to embark on an immediate withdrawal of services until safety assurances are guaranteed,” it said.
It also demanded swift justice, calling for “the urgent identification, arrest, and prosecution of all individuals involved in this heinous act,” insisting that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”
Beyond law enforcement, NARD placed responsibility on institutional authorities, urging the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, to “collaborate with security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and appropriately sanctioned,” while also demanding that the institution “take responsibility for the actions of their students, including covering the full cost of medical care and providing adequate compensation to the assaulted doctor.”
The association further called on the management of OOUTH Sagamu to “urgently overhaul and reinforce the security architecture within the hospital premises,” stressing the need for proactive measures to prevent a recurrence and to address welfare concerns affecting doctors.
NARD warned that failure to meet its demands could lead to an escalation of the crisis.
“Failure to meet these demands promptly will compel escalation to a regional and national industrial dispute,” the statement said.
While reaffirming solidarity with its members in OOUTH, the association extended sympathy to the victim, wishing her “a swift recovery, physically, emotionally, and professionally.”
It also urged government at all levels to take urgent steps to protect healthcare workers, declaring that “the safety of doctors is non-negotiable” and stressing that “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
“Healthcare workers must be protected. Justice must prevail,” the association added.
