The Federal Government has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect in the stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist, Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call in a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
Salako condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable. He stressed that no disagreement over medical care could justify violence against healthcare workers.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect, assuring that the ministry would monitor the case to ensure justice was served.
The minister said the incident highlighted the need to implement measures introduced by the ministry on August 5, 2026, to improve the safety of healthcare workers in federal tertiary health institutions.
The measures include strengthening security arrangements, establishing violence-prevention teams, introducing incident-reporting mechanisms, collaborating with law enforcement agencies and improving complaint-handling procedures.
Salako emphasised that these measures must translate into effective protection for healthcare personnel across medical facilities.
He also appealed to health workers who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work in the interest of patients and the general public. He urged them to allow security agencies to investigate the incident, assuring them that the government remained committed to addressing concerns about their safety.
The minister further urged the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support, while strengthening security in line with federal directives.
Salako also extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, acknowledging their grief over the loss of their loved one.
He urged patients and their relatives to channel complaints about healthcare services through established procedures rather than resorting to violence, adding that all grievances should be investigated fairly and addressed on their merits.
