FG Demands Immediate Arrest of Suspect Who Attacked Health Worker At FMC Abeokuta
Abuja, Nigeria | 12 October 2026
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has condemned the reported stabbing of Mr. Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and calls for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged assailant in accordance with the law.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the attack as barbaric and unacceptable. In a statement signed Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations in the ministry and made available to nigerianecho.com.ng, the Minister stressed that no grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties. He called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect and affirmed that the Ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant is brought to justice.
Dr. Salako said the incident reinforces the urgency of implementing the measures directed by the Ministry on 5 August 2026 to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions. These measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures. He stressed that these safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities.
The Minister also appealed to health workers who have embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the wider public, urging them to allow the security authorities to carry out their duties and pursue the investigation. He further urged the hospital’s management to ensure that the injured staff member receives appropriate medical care and support, and to strengthen security arrangements in line with the Federal Government’s directives.
The Minister extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserves compassion and appropriate attention. He urged anyone with concerns about the care received to use the hospital’s formal complaints mechanism, where such concerns can be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without recourse to violence.
The Ministry reiterates that protecting health workers is essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery. Health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can discharge their duties without fear of violence, and where patients and their families can seek care with confidence.
