…The injured scientist, identified as Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, is receiving treatment as health sector unions demand accountability and stronger security at the hospital.
Tension has mounted at The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, following the alleged stabbisng of a medical laboratory scientist, Lawal Tosheeb Olasunkanmi, by a patient’s relative within the hospital premises.
DASCENARIO reports that the incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday night, October 11, 2026, has triggered protests by health workers and renewed concerns over the safety of medical personnel providing essential services.
According to reports by Premium Times and other Nigerian news outlets, the injured scientist was attacked while on duty. Abiodun Famuyiwa, Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) at FMC Abeokuta, said Lawal was stabbed in two places, including the head, and was receiving treatment at the hospital.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and the identity of the suspect have not been independently established in the available reports.
FMC Abeokuta Health Workers Declare 72-Hour Warning Strike
In response to the incident, health workers at the facility commenced a 72-hour warning strike on Monday, October 12, following deliberations by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of health sector unions.
The industrial action began at 11 a.m. on Monday and was scheduled to end at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, according to a protest letter addressed to the hospital’s Medical Director.
The action involves workers represented by five unions: the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The unions condemned the reported assault, describing it as an attack on the safety and dignity of healthcare professionals carrying out their official responsibilities.
They also called for accountability and measures to prevent similar incidents within the hospital.
Unions Demand Improved Security and Accountability
The Chairman of MHWUN at FMC Abeokuta, Abiodun Famuyiwa, said the incident had raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers.
He maintained that medical personnel should be able to perform their duties without fear of physical attacks.
Famuyiwa disclosed that the incident had been reported to the police and referred to the appropriate authorities for further action. He also called for an investigation and the prosecution of the alleged assailant in accordance with the law.
The union leader urged hospital management to review and strengthen security arrangements, particularly in laboratory areas, clinical departments, emergency units and other vulnerable locations.
The warning strike, he explained, was intended to express workers’ displeasure, demand accountability and press for concrete steps to address their security concerns.
Federal Government Condemns Attack, Calls for Suspect’s Arrest
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has also condemned the reported stabbing and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged assailant.
In a statement issued on October 12, 2026, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the attack as unacceptable, stressing that grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with medical care could not justify violence against a healthcare worker.
The ministry called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect and said it would follow developments in the case.
Salako also urged FMC Abeokuta management to ensure that the injured scientist received appropriate medical care and support, while strengthening security arrangements in line with federal directives.
The minister appealed to health workers participating in the industrial action to return to work in the interest of patients and the wider public, allowing law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident.
The ministry further extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient and urged anyone dissatisfied with medical services to use the hospital’s formal complaints channels rather than resort to violence.
Renewed Concerns Over Safety of Healthcare Workers
The incident has brought renewed attention to the security challenges faced by healthcare professionals in public hospitals and the need to protect workers while maintaining safe access to medical services for patients and their families.
The Federal Ministry of Health said the case reinforced the urgency of implementing measures previously directed to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions.
The measures include stronger security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, improved incident reporting, closer collaboration with law enforcement agencies and better complaint-handling procedures.
As investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, the immediate concerns remain the recovery of the injured scientist, the identification and apprehension of the alleged attacker, and the resolution of workers’ security concerns.
The case also underscores the importance of ensuring that hospitals remain safe environments for healthcare professionals to discharge their responsibilities and for patients to receive essential medical care without fear of violence.
DASCENARIO will continue to monitor developments concerning the investigation, the hospital’s response and the status of the industrial action.
