Police probe EKSUTH attack as workers suspend strike

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Dare Ogundare, has ordered a thorough investigation into the attack by hoodlums on Monday, on Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti and the forcible removal of a corpse.

Thus, the Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Prof Kayode Olabanji, said that the workers, who embarked on strike following the attack, had suspended their industrial action.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, who said that the CP met with the parties involved in the matter on Tuesday morning, said that the police had started investigating some persons fingered in the attack on the hospital.

The hoodlums, suspected to be members of a drivers’ union, angered by the death of the patient, who was the father to one of them, had allegedly descended on doctors and other hospital workers, vandalised the Accident and Emergency Unit and forcibly took away the corpse.

Some EKSUTH workers, including members of the Association of Resident Doctors, immediately embarked on strike, calling for their security and the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.

The police spokesperson said normalcy had since returned to the hospital while law enforcement agents had been deployed to the facility to ensure the security of lives and property.

Abutu said, “The CP has ordered a thorough investigation into it. We have invited some persons who have been fingered, some of them are with us, and we are still expecting more to arrive for investigation.

“We (police) have had a meeting with the parties – the union, EKSUTH management, led by the CMD, the representatives of government, the family of the deceased, everybody was present in the Commissioner of Police’s Office this morning for roundtable talk to see a way of resolving the matter,” Abutu said.

EKSUTH CMD, Prof. Olabanji, said during a meeting with the hospital union leaders that “about 20 people who were involved in the molestation and vandalisation of hospital facilities are now in the police net”.

According to a statement by the Head, EKSUTH Corporate Affairs Department, Rolake Adewumi, the CMD said, “The perpetrators are already writing statements at the Police Station and will be charged in court soon.

Olabanji commended the hospital workers’ unions “for their understanding and timely suspension of the strike for the sake of many citizens who need medical attention.

“Security issues are one of the reasons responsible for “Brain Drain” (Japa) in the country. The management will do everything possible to ensure a safe and conducive working environment for our workers.

The Chairman of the EKSUTH Chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors, Doctor Famous Adeyemi, said the relevant Unions have met and agreed to suspend the ongoing strike, urged Ekiti State House of Assembly to enact a law prohibiting attack on health workers while delivering quality healthcare services to the people.