Medical staff at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Kwara State, yesterday commenced a five-day suspension of services following the alleged assault of a female doctor by a man who lost his two-year-old son at the facility on Wednesday.

The man, identified simply as Mr Olatunji, allegedly stormed the paediatric ward after being informed of his son’s death, accusing the female doctor, whose identity was withheld, of negligence and insensitivity.

A source told The Guardian that the incident occurred in the Paediatrics Department, where the doctor was physically assaulted while attending to another patient.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), UITH chapter, Dr Oladepo Adeshina, confirmed the attack, describing it as the third assault on medical personnel at the hospital in the last three years.

A senior member of staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned the incident and called for restraint.

According to the source, “Mr Olatunji suddenly charged into the ward while our colleague was attending to another patient. He pushed her, causing her to hit her back against an iron bed.

“He was about to assault her further before people around intervened and restrained him.

“He also verbally abused other medical personnel on duty. It took the combined efforts of the police and the hospital’s internal security team to subdue him and prevent further violence.

“The police arrested him and took him away. We intend to ensure that the law takes its course to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.”

Adeshina said the association immediately convened an emergency congress, which resolved to embark on a five-day industrial action expected to end on Monday.

He said the protest was aimed at demanding justice for the assaulted doctor and drawing attention to the increasing attacks on healthcare workers.

The suspension of services left many patients stranded across various departments of the hospital, with several waiting for hours without receiving medical attention.

During a peaceful protest within the hospital premises, resident doctors condemned the assault and urged members of the public to stop attacking healthcare workers carrying out their professional duties.

Addressing patients and journalists, Adeshina questioned why doctors should be subjected to such inhumane treatment despite their commitment to providing quality healthcare. He noted that many Nigerian doctors had already emigrated in search of better working conditions abroad.

A hospital source told The Guardian that the industrial action was expected to last five days, with resident doctors hopeful of resuming work on Monday.

Although many patients left the hospital disappointed, the source said consultants might provide emergency medical services to patients requiring urgent attention during the period of the protest.