In the ENF petition signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the forum disclosed that the incident is disturbing, unacceptable, and a direct attack on public health workers serving under lawful government directives.
The Elegant Nurses Forum (ENF) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged assault of a Community Nurse, identified as Nurse Hussein, while she was carrying out her official duties during a government-approved vaccination exercise in Oyo State.
In the ENF petition signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the forum disclosed that the incident is disturbing, unacceptable, and a direct attack on public health workers serving under lawful government directives.
According to the petition, a licensed and government-approved health team had visited Olanike Dairo Primary and Secondary School as part of a routine childhood immunisation outreach.
The exercise, which formed part of a public health programme, was aimed at administering vaccines to eligible children within the school community.
The ENF stated that the team was made up of trained health professionals duly assigned to carry out vaccination services.
However, upon arrival at the school, the management reportedly expressed concerns about the vaccination exercise and asked members of the health team to wait while internal discussions were held.
While the team waited, Nurse Hussein was said to be standing peacefully with her colleagues when she was allegedly slapped by the school’s Head Mistress, identified as Madam Bimpe.
The nurses’ forum further disclosed that a video currently circulating on social media allegedly shows the Head Mistress admitting to slapping the nurse. If verified, the forum noted, the act constitutes a clear case of assault against a health worker performing lawful duties on behalf of the government.
“This incident is not only an attack on an individual nurse but also an attack on public health services and the authority of government institutions that deployed the team,” the petition read. “Health workers should never be subjected to violence, intimidation, or humiliation while serving the public.”
The ENF stressed that nurses and other healthcare professionals routinely put themselves at risk to protect lives and improve public health outcomes, and therefore deserve respect, dignity, and full legal protection in the course of their work.
In the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Elegant Nurses Forum made the following demands: "Order a thorough and immediate police investigation into the incident.
"Ensure that anyone found responsible is charged to court in accordance with the law for assault and any other relevant offences.
"Provide protection for health workers involved in public health outreach, especially during vaccination exercises.
"Send a clear public message that violence against healthcare workers will not be tolerated under any circumstance."
The forum noted that Nurses and other healthcare professionals risk their safety daily to protect lives.
"They deserve respect, dignity, and legal protection while carrying out their duties.
"We trust in your office to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and to ensure that justice is served," they added.
Meanwhile, Nurse Hussein, while giving her personal account of the incident, provided a detailed narrative of what transpired on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
According to her, the health team visited Olanike Dairo School for the Measles and Rubella vaccination exercise.
She explained that before their arrival, the team received a strict instruction from their superiors not to enter the school compound until Health Educators were present, due to the school’s alleged history of refusing vaccines.
“When we got to the school gate, one of my colleagues ignored the instruction and entered the school compound,” she said.
“I stayed outside because I wanted to obey the directive. I tried to call her back and mentioned that we were supposed to wait outside because the school usually does not accept vaccines.”
While she was standing outside the gate, Nurse Hussein said a woman suddenly emerged from the school premises.
“She grabbed my face and twisted my mouth,” the nurse recounted. “At first, I thought it was a joke, but before I could understand what was happening, the woman gave me a heavy slap.”
Shocked by the incident, Nurse Hussein said she questioned the woman about her action.
“I asked her why she slapped me, and she said I was tarnishing the school’s image by saying they do not collect vaccines,” she added.
The nurse further stated that her colleagues pleaded with her to apologise to the woman in order to resolve the situation amicably. However, she declined, insisting that she had done nothing wrong and was only following official instructions.
As tensions escalated, Nurse Hussein said she contacted her husband, who later arrived at the scene.
According to her, the woman admitted in his presence that the school indeed does not accept vaccines, but justified her action by claiming she slapped the nurse because the statement was made openly.
“I am writing this report to formally record that I was physically assaulted for doing my job and for following the instructions given to us by our superiors,” Nurse Hussein said.