By our Reporter
The Federal Government has condemned the reported stabbing of a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged assailant.
The victim, Mr Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, was reportedly attacked in an incident that has drawn condemnation from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the attack as barbaric and unacceptable, stressing that grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with medical care could not justify violence against health workers performing their lawful duties.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, Salako called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect. He also assured that the Ministry would follow the case to ensure justice was served.
The minister said the incident underscored the need to implement measures directed by the Ministry on August 5, 2026, to improve the safety of health workers in federal tertiary hospitals. The measures include enhanced security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures.
Salako also appealed to health workers who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to resume work in the interest of patients and the public, urging them to allow security agencies to investigate the incident. He further called on the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support, while strengthening security in line with Federal Government directives.
The minister extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, acknowledging the pain associated with losing a loved one. He urged patients and their relatives with complaints about medical care to use the hospital’s formal complaint-handling channels rather than resorting to violence.
The Ministry reaffirmed that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery, insisting that hospitals must remain secure environments where medical personnel can perform their duties without fear and patients can access care with confidence.
