Hordes of protesters hit the streets in Ogbomoso on Friday, chanting that markets and roads will be shut down from Monday over the delayed rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from communities in Oyo State.

Marching through Agboin Street in Ogbomoso town with banners, the protesters demanded the swift rescue of the abductees, vowing to shut down markets, roads, and commercial activities in the town from Monday.

Dressed in all black, a protester with a megaphone called on all Ogbomoso residents to come out and not remain indifferent while their kinsmen languish in captivity.

“Come out, all sons and daughters of Ogbomoso. We must not sleep over this matter. Come out in solidarity. There shall be no buying and selling in the entire Ogbomoso on Monday,” he said.

Other protesters also called on other residents of Ogbomoso to join the protest and demand the quick release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

Earlier in the week, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Ọba Ghandi Ọláoyè, had called for calm, saying military forces could not be deployed against the abductors to avoid collateral damage. 

For over 20 days, schoolchildren and teachers abducted from the Esienle and Yawota communities in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been in captivity. 

Their abduction has sparked protests in major cities in the country, including Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Plateau and Bayelsa, while the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed its members to down tools in protest.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned the alleged assault and arrest of a medical doctor and two other health workers following the death of a patient at the Mother and Child Hospital, Mowe, an annex of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital (NPH), Aro, Ogun State.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the association described the incident as “barbaric” and accused the police authorities of failing to arrest those responsible for the attack.

According to NARD, the incident occurred after a critically ill patient died while receiving emergency treatment at the hospital.

The association said relatives of the deceased allegedly attacked a doctor and other healthcare workers over claims that the doctor “killed” the patient.

Arrest after attack

NARD said the assaulted doctor, alongside a nurse and an administrative staff member who reportedly tried to rescue the doctor during the attack, were later arrested by the police.

“In an even more disturbing twist, the police reportedly arrested the assaulted doctor, alongside a nurse and an administrative staff member who had merely attempted to rescue the doctor from the violent attack, while the actual assailants walked free,” the statement said.

The association noted that although the doctor had been granted bail, “the matter remains unresolved, and justice is yet to be served.”

Demands

The association demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals allegedly involved in the assault.

It also called for “adequate compensation” for the doctor, nurse and administrative staff member affected by the incident, citing “physical assault, emotional trauma, and defamation suffered.”

It further requested the “immediate deployment and strengthening of security architecture within health facilities to protect healthcare workers and patients alike.”

The association also asked for assurances from security agencies and government authorities that healthcare workers “will no longer be subjected to such degrading treatment.”

A growing pattern

NARD said attacks on healthcare workers had become frequent across the country and called for urgent intervention by authorities.

“This continuous trend of harassment, bullying, intimidation, and physical assault on health workers across Nigeria has become unacceptable, intolerable, and must be decisively addressed by relevant authorities,” the statement added.

The incident is one of several reported attacks on healthcare workers across Nigeria.

In February, the association raised concerns over the assault of a resident doctor at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, allegedly by relatives of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.

In June, another doctor was allegedly assaulted by a patient’s relative while on duty. The incident later triggered a 72-hour warning strike by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FMC Owo Chapter, which disrupted services at both the FMC and its Akure Annex.

Also in March, the South-east chapter of resident doctors threatened a regional strike after a doctor at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was allegedly assaulted by security personnel attached to a senior government official during an official visit to the facility.

In May, NARD condemned the assault of a doctor at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, during a protest by members of the host community.

The association described the incident as a threat to the safety of healthcare professionals and warned that repeated attacks on health workers could trigger wider industrial action.

In another case reported in May, NARD condemned the alleged assault of doctors and other health workers at the Emergency Department of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, following the death of a patient.

The association backed a 48-hour warning strike declared by doctors at the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, following the alleged assault of health workers by relatives of a deceased patient at the hospital’s emergency unit.

Meanwhile, in 2024, NARD had called on the National Assembly to enact laws criminalising assaults on health workers following a series of attacks in hospitals.

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It cited incidents involving doctors and nurses at the Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital; UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo; and the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja.

Support for doctors

NARD said it stands with the ARD NPH Aro, regarding actions taken in response to the incident.

It also commended the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State branch, for its intervention and support.

“Healthcare workers are not punching bags. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the statement said.