FG Demands Arrest, Prosecution Of Suspect Who Stabbed Lab Scientist At FMC Abeokuta
The Federal Government has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect who allegedly stabbed 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 demand while condemning the attack, describing it as an unacceptable act of violence against medical personnel.
The minister’s position was contained in a statement issued by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
Salako stressed that disagreements over medical treatment or hospital services should never result in physical attacks on healthcare workers, who must be able to perform their duties in a safe environment.
He urged patients and their relatives who are dissatisfied with hospital services to channel their complaints through appropriate procedures rather than resorting to violence.
The minister called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the suspect is arrested without delay and prosecuted in accordance with the law, assuring Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would closely monitor the case to ensure justice is served.
According to him, the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to strengthen measures to protect healthcare workers across federal tertiary hospitals in the country.
He recalled that the ministry introduced safety measures on August 5, 2026, to improve security in healthcare facilities and prevent attacks on medical personnel.
The measures include strengthening security arrangements within hospitals, establishing teams to prevent violence, improving systems for reporting attacks, enhancing cooperation between hospital management and law enforcement agencies, and improving channels through which patients and their relatives can seek redress.
Salako urged hospital administrators to ensure full implementation of the safety measures, noting that the guidelines must provide practical protection for healthcare workers rather than remain mere policy documents.
He maintained that medical personnel should not have to work under the threat of violence while providing essential services.
The minister also appealed to health workers who embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta following the stabbing incident to return to their duties immediately to prevent further disruption of medical services.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of health workers and called for stronger cooperation among hospital authorities, security agencies, patients and their relatives to prevent similar incidents in the future.