The group lamented that it is deeply painful for healthcare workers who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick and vulnerable to become victims of violence from the same people they are trying to help.
The Elegant Nurses Forum (ENF) has condemned the alleged assault on a nurse, Hafsat Ibrahim Musa, who was reportedly attacked by a patient identified as Sergeant AB Victus Ike, a serving military officer, while she was performing her official duties at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
The incident, according to the Forum, occurred on the evening of February 27, 2026, at about 7:05pm and has since stirred outrage among healthcare professionals who say violence against nurses is becoming an alarming and dangerous trend in Nigeria’s health sector.
In a statement signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the Elegant Nurses Forum described the attack as disturbing, unacceptable and a gross violation of the dignity and safety of healthcare workers.
According to the statement, the soldier allegedly became violent after demanding bedsheets which were not immediately available at the emergency unit of the hospital.
Reports available to the Forum indicated that instead of showing patience or understanding the operational realities of the hospital environment, the soldier reportedly slapped the nurse who was attending to him while she was carrying out her professional duties.
The Forum said the action was shameful and unacceptable, stressing that nurses are trained professionals dedicated to caring for patients even under extremely difficult circumstances.
“According to reports available to us, the soldier demanded bedsheets which were not immediately available. Instead of exercising patience and understanding the realities of the hospital environment, he resorted to violence and slapped the Nurse who was simply doing her job,” the forum said.
“This act is unacceptable, shameful and a complete violation of the dignity and safety of healthcare workers.”
The group lamented that it is deeply painful for healthcare workers who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick and vulnerable to become victims of violence from the same people they are trying to help.
“Nurses are trained to provide care, compassion and support to patients, even under very difficult conditions. It is therefore deeply painful that a professional who dedicated herself to caring for the sick would be physically assaulted by the very person she was trying to help,” the Forum stated.
Beyond the physical impact of the assault, the group warned that such incidents could have serious psychological and emotional consequences for the affected nurse.
The statement explained that nurses who suffer physical attacks while performing their duties may develop fear, trauma, emotional distress and loss of professional confidence.
“Beyond the physical pain, such an attack has serious psychological and emotional effects on the victim. A Nurse who is assaulted while performing her duty may suffer fear, trauma, loss of confidence and emotional distress,” they noted.
The Forum also warned that violence against healthcare workers creates an unsafe working environment for other medical personnel and could ultimately affect the quality of care patients receive in hospitals.
According to the group, hospitals are supposed to be safe spaces for both patients and health professionals, but growing incidents of aggression against nurses are beginning to threaten the stability of the healthcare system.
“Violence against healthcare workers is becoming an alarming trend and must not be allowed to continue. Hospitals should be safe places for both patients and health workers. When those who provide care are attacked, the entire health system is threatened,” the Forum stated.
In response to the incident, the Elegant Nurses Forum called for urgent and decisive action from the appropriate authorities to ensure justice for the assaulted nurse and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Among its demands, the group called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the assault on Nurse Hafsat Ibrahim Musa, as well as proper medical and psychological support for the affected nurse.
The Forum also demanded clear communication from relevant authorities on the outcome of the case and stronger protection measures for healthcare workers within hospital premises.
The group specifically called on the Chief of Army Staff to ensure that Sgt. AB Victus Ike faces appropriate disciplinary actions in line with military regulations.
The statement read, “We specifically call on the Chief of Army Staff to ensure that Sgt. AB Victus Ike faces appropriate disciplinary actions and sanctions in accordance with military regulations so that this incident will serve as a deterrent to others.
The Forum further urged the Nigerian Army to publicly disclose the disciplinary measures taken against the soldier to reassure the public that acts of violence against healthcare workers will not be tolerated.
“The Nigerian Army should publicly communicate the disciplinary measures taken against the soldier in order to reassure the public that acts of violence against Nurses and other healthcare workers will not be tolerated,” the group added.
The nurses’ body also insisted that the officer involved must issue a public apology to the assaulted nurse and the entire nursing profession.
According to the Forum, failure to take visible disciplinary action could further erode public confidence in the Nigerian Army and may be interpreted as tolerance for violence against healthcare workers.
“Failure to take visible disciplinary action may further damage public confidence and could be interpreted as tolerance of violence against Nurses, which is unacceptable.”
The group further described the incident as not only an attack on a healthcare professional but also violence against a woman.
“This is not only violence against a Nurse, but also violence against a woman. This should not be tolerated in the Nigerian Army as this action portrays a high level of irresponsibility, violation of women’s rights within the Army and a testament to the fact that soldiers are not properly trained to respect women’s rights and dignity,” the Forum stated.
The Elegant Nurses Forum also called on women’s rights and advocacy groups across Nigeria to intervene and stand in defence of the assaulted nurse.
The group urged civil society organisations to explore legal action against both the officer involved and the Nigerian Army as an institution, arguing that the incident reflects deeper issues relating to discipline and respect for professional and gender rights.
“We call on Women’s Rights and advocacy groups to stand in defence of Nurse Hafsat Ibrahim by suing the officer involved and the Nigerian Army as an institution that has failed to instill proper norms and discipline in its officers.”
The Forum emphasised that no healthcare worker should ever be subjected to violence while carrying out their professional responsibilities.
“Respect for Nurses and other health workers must be upheld at all times. No healthcare worker should be subjected to violence while performing their professional duties.”
The Elegant Nurses Forum reaffirmed its solidarity with Nurse Hafsat Ibrahim Musa and other healthcare workers across the country who continue to serve the public despite challenging working conditions and increasing risks.
“Violence against Nurses must stop,” the group added.
