Mirian Gom 
IBADAN, Nigeria – The Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital has launched a warning strike after two doctors were allegedly assaulted and stripped during a violent incident at the hospital’s Emergency Department in Ibadan.
The industrial action, which began on Friday night, is expected to continue until Tuesday morning, according to a communiqué jointly signed by ARD President Uthman Adedeji and General Secretary Mary Awodiji.
The association said the strike followed an emergency meeting held at the ARD Lounge inside the University College Hospital.
According to the communiqué, chaos erupted in the Emergency Department after a relative of a deceased patient, identified as Sarafa Oyenigba, allegedly attacked doctors Oladapo Olatunbosun and Mololuwa Adebayo.
The association said a Deputy Director of Nursing, security officials and the Service Manager were also assaulted during the incident.
ARD accused the suspect of verbally abusing staff before physically attacking the doctors, stripping them of their clothing and threatening further violence even after his arrest.
The doctors’ association faulted a security officer on duty for allegedly failing to request reinforcement despite warnings about the suspect’s aggressive behaviour.
“It was grossly incompetent and entirely preventable,” the communiqué stated.
The association, however, commended hospital management for facilitating the arrest of the suspect and other individuals linked to the attack.
ARD demanded the immediate prosecution and remand of the suspect while expressing frustration over repeated assaults on healthcare workers at the institution.
The association recalled that another doctor, Moshood Adeyemo, was assaulted six weeks earlier, although that case was resolved without activating the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors assault protocol.
The doctors also called for stronger security measures, visible anti-violence signage, regular security training and psychological support for affected staff members.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Hussaini Ibrahim