Following the abduction of several nurses last Saturday at a health centre in Akure, the Ondo State capital, nurses in the state have threatened to withdraw from night duties.

The Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), in the state, Felix Orobode, issued the warning after armed men reportedly invaded Oke Ijebu Health Centre in the heart of Akure, assaulting staff and carting away valuables.

According to Orobode, the attackers stormed the facility in the night and beat staff mercilessly and stole money and other belongings before whisking some of the health workers away.

He added that conflicting reports initially emerged, with some suggesting a kidnapping and rescue operation, while others claimed the victims were later released.

Providing clarity, the union leader said affected staff confirmed they were abandoned by their assailants along Ondo Road after the attack.

“We were told the attackers came in a bus and forced their way into the facility. The staff on duty were beaten and some were taken away.

“When we spoke with the victims, they said they were dropped around Olokuta Prison along Ondo Road. That is what we reliably gathered,” he stated.

This account aligns with information from security sources, including local operatives, who indicated that the victims were not formally rescued but later found after being abandoned by the attackers along the same route.

The ANNM Chair described the incident as a stark indication of worsening insecurity in the state, especially as it occurred in a central area of Akure.

“For this to happen in Okeijebu, the heart of Akure, shows clearly that we are facing serious security challenges,” he said.

The union leader warned that nurses across the state may boycott night shifts if urgent security measures are not implemented, raising fears of a looming disruption in healthcare delivery, particularly during critical overnight hours.

“I want to make this clear: we are not going to wait until our members are kidnapped and we begin to raise ransom. If government fails to secure our facilities nurses will withdraw from night duty across Ondo State,” he declared.

He expressed deep concern over the inadequate security presence at public health facilities, lamenting that many centres are left vulnerable as they rely on elderly, unarmed guards lacking the training and equipment needed to respond to security threats.

You can see the security man here—an elderly man, unarmed, without any security training. That is what we have in most of our facilities,” he said.

Orobode stressed that fear among health workers could severely impact service delivery, as staff may become reluctant to attend to patients during vulnerable hours.

“If health workers are afraid of their lives, how can they give their best to patients? The morale is already affected,” he added.

He said discussions had been initiated with the state commissioner for health and the Akure South local government chairman to address the situation, while the union’s state executive council is expected to take a final decision on the proposed industrial action.

“The government must act now. The primary responsibility of any government is the security of lives and property,” he said. (Nigerian Tribune)