Doctors begin strike at FMC Owo, Akure Annex over alleged assault on colleague

Medical services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, and its Akure Annex in Ondo State have been disrupted following a three-day warning strike declared by resident doctors over the alleged assault of a colleague.

 

The industrial action, which commenced on Sunday, was called by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Owo, after a doctor on duty was reportedly attacked by a patient’s relative at the Akure Annex of the hospital.

 

The strike has left many patients stranded, with the doctors demanding the arrest of those involved and improved security measures within the hospital.

 

Sources at the facility said the incident occurred when the wife of a patient allegedly assaulted a doctor during an altercation. The situation reportedly escalated when suspected thugs later stormed the hospital premises in search of the physician.

 

In a statement jointly signed by the ARD President, Dr Adeola Oluwadamilola, and General Secretary, Dr Dare Aderemi, the association described the incident as part of a growing pattern of attacks on healthcare workers.

 

“The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre Owo, convened an Emergency General Meeting on May 30, 2026, following the assault on a doctor on call at the Akure Annex of the hospital,” the statement said.

 

“The doctor was assaulted by the wife of a male patient. He was slapped several times and manhandled by her and the patient.

 

“Assault on doctors has become a recurring issue, as this is the second such incident this year.”

 

The association said the decision to embark on a 72-hour total strike was in line with the protocol of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

 

“The congress, according to the NARD protocol, declares a 72-hour total strike which begins at 8 a.m. on May 31, 2026. The strike will only be reviewed when adequate armed security is provided in the hospital and its annexes,” the statement added.

 

The doctors expressed concern over what they described as inadequate security at the facility and called on management and relevant authorities to take urgent steps to protect healthcare workers from further attacks.

 

As of press time, hospital management had not issued an official statement on the incident or the strike action.