Two doctors were physically attacked by a grieving father at Central Hospital, Warri, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, following the death of his newborn at the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) identified the victims as a Senior Registrar and a House Officer, both of whom were assaulted while informing the man of his child's death. NARD condemned the incident as "barbaric and unjustifiable," despite acknowledging the emotional distress of the bereaved parent. The attacker has been arrested and is currently in police custody.
In a statement released on Monday, NARD denounced the increasing frequency of violence against medical personnel across the country. The association demanded immediate prosecution of the suspect to discourage similar acts. It also called for comprehensive compensation and psychosocial support for the injured doctors, as well as the deployment of adequate security personnel in all healthcare facilities. NARD expressed full solidarity with its members at Central Hospital, Warri, and endorsed their 48-hour warning strike, describing it as a justified response to the lack of safety and dignity in their working environment. The union warned hospital management and government agencies against retaliatory actions or intimidation of the striking doctors.
The strike by resident doctors at Central Hospital, Warri, is set to proceed as planned, pending government response to their security demands.
