Soldiers ‘beat up’ doctors and nurses in Ondo state

About 20 soldiers allegedly beat up health workers at the General Hospital in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Wednesday afternoon.


It was learnt that the soldiers assaulted anyone in sight.

An eyewitness said many workers got injured while trying to escape from the soldiers.

Those unlucky were rough handled and are recuperating at various hospitals.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) and other senior staff reportedly went into hiding.

It was learnt that the soldiers were protesting against the rejection of their colleague’s body by the hospital’s mortuary.

Sources said the soldiers brought the body on Tuesday evening but the management said the mortuary was congested.

One of the injured workers said: “Efforts made by the soldiers to deposit the body here were unsuccessful, so they went back with it .

“On Wednesday morning, the soldiers came here fully armed, as if they were going to war. They started beating up the people they met on their way and disrupted activities in the hospital. Doctors, nurses and other health workers were beaten up.“

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he was not aware of the incident.

The Army Public Relations (APR) Unit of the 232 Brigade Command, Owena Barracks, Akure, could not be reached for comments.

A high ranking officer in the command denied the allegation, saying: “Today’s Nigerian Army is more discipline and civil to commit such crude acts.”

He said the people that attacked the hospital could be miscreants disguised in fake army uniforms.