The assault, SaharaReporters gathered occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, while Dr. Adeniyi was on duty at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned in strong terms the brutal assault on one of its members, Dr. Adeniyi A, a registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, describing the incident as a dangerous attack on the medical profession and Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The assault, SaharaReporters gathered occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, while Dr. Adeniyi was on duty at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.
In a press release jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, which was made available to SaharaReporters' on Saturday, the association said it received the report “with deep concern and profound outrage.”
“Hospitals must not become killing fields,” NARD said, describing the attack as “reprehensible, barbaric, and a direct assault on the medical profession.”
According to NARD, Dr. Adeniyi was physically attacked by a group of individuals alleged to be relatives of a surgical patient while carrying out his Hippocratic duties.
“It is even more disturbing that this occurred within a hospital environment, a place meant to preserve life, safety, and dignity,” the association said.
A source at FMC Owo told SaharaReporters that the attack followed tension over delays in conducting surgery for a patient.
“Dr. Adeniyi had just returned from sick leave after collapsing on duty and being admitted for a few days,” the source said.
“The patient’s relatives were angry about delays in surgery. A group of thugs was mobilised and began attacking health personnel, who ran for safety. Unfortunately, Dr. Adeniyi was unaware of what was happening when he walked into the Accident and Emergency unit and he was attacked.”
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at FMC Owo confirmed the incident in a communiqué issued after an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held on February 5.
According to the communiqué, over 90 per cent of resident doctors attended the meeting, which lasted about three hours.
The ARD said Dr. Adeniyi was assaulted by about 15 people, allegedly relatives of a surgical patient.
“The assailants assaulted the registrar with numerous dirty slaps and punches, dragged him on the floor and broke his recommended spectacle while he was carrying out his duties,” the communiqué stated.
The doctors also lamented that no security personnel came to the aid of the victim during the attack, describing the hospital’s security architecture as “grossly inadequate.”
“The EGM observed that assault on health workers is becoming incessant and too frequent,” the doctors said, adding that members of the public increasingly resort to violence when seeking redress.
Following the incident, resident doctors at FMC Owo resolved to commence a 48-hour withdrawal of services, which began at 8pm on February 5, citing concerns over their safety.
“All resident doctors are directed to withdraw their services completely,” the ARD said.
NARD, at the national level, issued a list of non-negotiable demands, including full compensation for Dr. Adeniyi, coverage of all medical expenses, immediate upgrading of security across FMC Owo, and the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the assault.
“Failure to meet these demands will compel the association to take all legitimate actions necessary to protect its members,” NARD warned.
The association expressed solidarity with the ARD FMC Owo and warned that continued silence or indifference to attacks on doctors would no longer be tolerated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” NARD said.
Resident doctors also acknowledged the intervention of the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Ahmed L.A., and the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. A.J. Aiyeyemi, who visited the injured doctor during his admission.
NARD concluded by calling for urgent action to stop the rising wave of violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria, insisting that hospitals must remain safe spaces for both patients and medical professionals.
“Enough is enough,” the association declared.