Healthcare workers in Lagos under two major associations protested on Saturday over alleged persistent harassment and intimidation by security agencies, warning that the trend is affecting healthcare delivery.
Medical doctors in Lagos State, under the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), staged the protest over alleged unlawful arrests and intimidation by security operatives, particularly the police.
The demonstrators marched from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, carrying placards with messages such as “Doctors are not criminals,” “No to police harassment,” and “Doctors are not God to guarantee life”.
Speaking during the protest tagged “Protest Against Harassment of Doctors”, ANPMP Lagos Chairman, Dr. Jonathan Esegie, said the action was necessary to address what he described as a growing threat to the health sector.
“This is a gathering of historical importance… something is pursuing us”, he said.
Esegie alleged that doctors are increasingly being arrested, intimidated, and sometimes taken away while attending to patients, disrupting hospital services.
He warned that the situation is pushing doctors into “defensive medicine,” as fear of arrest affects clinical decisions.
“There are instances where doctors are whisked away from patients and detained for days, while services are shut down.
“We are not God. We can only care; only God guarantees life”, he said.
He added that only the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has the legal mandate to investigate alleged medical negligence, not the police.
Lagos NMA Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, also condemned what he called increasing harassment and trial by public opinion.
“We are not happy. Doctors are being harassed and vilified without proper investigation”, he said.
Saheed urged journalists to verify medical-related reports before publication.
“Ask questions and verify from doctors. We are human beings, not devils”, he said.
The protest followed the detention of a doctor and nurse in Lekki after the death of two critically ill children with severe gastroenteritis, despite medical efforts to save them.
Esegie said the incident triggered the protest after the health workers were detained for about a week.
The associations warned that continued harassment could worsen brain drain as doctors seek opportunities abroad.
“If this does not stop, doctors will leave, and those who remain may avoid high-risk cases”, Esegie said.
They called for an end to arbitrary arrests of healthcare workers and urged that professional bodies be allowed to handle medical negligence cases.
The groups also said they would petition relevant authorities, including the police commissioner and the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
