LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has launched a fierce protest following the savage beating of a medical doctor and registrar at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Dr. Adeniyi A.
The assault, which occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, saw a mob allegedly comprised of a patient’s relatives storm the Accident and Emergency Unit, leaving the medical professional with severe injuries.
NARD leadership has branded the incident “reprehensible and barbaric,” warning that hospitals in Nigeria are fast becoming “killing fields” for those sworn to save lives. The transition from a place of healing to a scene of violence has sparked national outrage, with NARD President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, declaring that “enough is enough”.
The association noted that this is part of a dangerous recurring pattern where health workers are scapegoated for systemic failures.
“It is even more disturbing that this occurred within a hospital environment, a place meant to preserve life, safety, and dignity,” the NARD statement read, emphasizing that such unprovoked aggression will no longer be met with silence.
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In a swift retaliatory move, the association has issued four non-negotiable demands to the federal government and hospital management.
They call for full financial compensation through immediate payment for Dr. Adeniyi’s physical and psychological trauma, total medical coverage with the hospital bearing all costs related to the victim’s recovery, a comprehensive security overhaul involving an immediate upgrade of surveillance and security protocols at all entry points of FMC Owo, and swift prosecution, including the prompt arrest and trial of all perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
NARD Maintains that failure to meet these conditions will compel the national body to take “all legitimate actions” to protect its members, potentially leading to a total shutdown of services.
While the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FMC Owo, has already begun an internal protest, NARD has reaffirmed its institutional solidarity, reminding the public that “an injury to one is an injury to all”.
In conclusion, they state that hospitals must remain sanctuaries for both staff and patients, and the current climate of impunity threatens the very fabric of the Nigerian healthcare system.
