Resident doctors at University College Hospital in Ibadan have started a warning strike following an assault on their colleagues by a patient identified as Oyenigba. The doctors say Oyenigba verbally assaulted members of staff, stripped them of their clothing, and threatened further harm even after police arrested him.
The association of resident doctors made the strike announcement after the incident, which left staff members shaken and fuming over what they describe as a serious breach of professional safety. Hospital workers have long complained about inadequate security and the rising number of violent incidents involving patients and their relatives.
Oyenigba's actions represent the kind of workplace violence that has become routine at public hospitals across Nigeria, where staff work without proper protection or clear protocols for handling aggressive patients. The doctors are using the warning strike to press their demands for better security measures and a commitment from hospital management to protect their members.
UCH management has not yet made a public statement on the incident or the doctors' demands. The warning strike is expected to escalate into a full strike if the hospital fails to meet the residents' conditions within a specified timeframe. Other hospital unions may join the action if the situation remains unresolved.
