Medical association petition Kogi Majority Leader Suleiman Abdulrazaq for assault

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (ARDFTHL), and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi State, has written a petition on Friday, January 26, 2024, against Honorable Suleiman Abdulrazaq (SAS), the majority leader of Kogi State House of Assembly.

The 11-point petition outlined grave accusations related to an incident on January 23, 2024, where Abdulrazaq allegedly led a group of thugs in an attack on the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital.

The petition against him came after the NMA in the state issued a communique following an emergency State Officers’ Council (SOC) meeting held on January 24, 2024, due to the disturbing incident at the teaching hospital.

Deliberations at the meeting revealed that the assault unfolded after an unconscious patient from another hospital outside Lokoja passed away despite medical efforts. Enraged relatives then attacked medical staff, leading to a chaotic and life-threatening situation within the hospital premises.

One member of the NMA sustained chest trauma during the assault, prompting the evacuation of colleagues from the hospital for their safety. The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the hospital and the Hospital Management released statements addressing the incident.

In response, the management of the association issued resolutions condemning the unprovoked violence and expressing sympathy for the deceased’s family. Urgent calls were made for the assailants’ identification, arrest, and prosecution.

Pledging unwavering support to the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (ARDFTHL), the SOC urged them to address issues raised in the aftermath.

The petition written on Friday detailed that Abdulrazaq (SAS) physically assaulted doctors, disrupted medical services and caused property damage.

It partly read: “The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja writes this petition against Majority Leader of the Kogi state House of Assembly, Honorable Suleiman Abdulrazaq, for leading thugs to the Accident and Emergency unit of the teaching hospital Lokoja on the 23rd of January 2024 following the demise of his patient who was brought in unconscious with Glasgow Coma Scale 3 after he suffered suspected hemorrhagic stroke before being referred to FTHL for further management.

“They unleashed mayhem on the staff of the hospital on duty, disrupted medical services being undertaken at the emergency ward, destroyed properties, and assaulted doctors on duty physically, mentally, and psychologically.

Eyewitnesses reportedly identified the majority leader as the main culprit who assaulted two doctors – Dr Dike Stephen Precious and Dr Ozor Franklin.

Also, video evidence captured him and his men in a struggle to disarm a security operative within the hospital premises, resulting in sporadic gunshots. The petition also highlighted public incitements to violence against doctors by his media team, raising concerns about potential chaos and harm.

The ARDFTHL called for the immediate arrest, thorough investigation, and prosecution of SAS and his cohorts over the incident.

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