Patients at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, reportedly staged a protest on Wednesday, decrying the poor treatment they receive at the facility. The protest, which lasted over two hours, saw patients expressing grievances over issues such as inadequate feeding, substandard sanitation, and a lack of sensitivity from the hospital's management.
During the protest, one of the doctors was allegedly attacked by the protesting patients, leading to other medical staff fleeing the scene. The situation escalated until police officers from the Lafenwa Divisional Headquarters intervened to restore order.
According to a witness, the patients' complaints have been ongoing, including problems with the hospital's power supply and management's unresponsiveness to their grievances. The patients, some of whom reportedly pay between N500,000 to N700,000 for their treatment, felt compelled to protest due to the lack of improvement in their conditions.
A relative of one patient, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the difficulties faced by those seeking treatment at the hospital. When approached for comment, the hospital's Public Relations Officer directed inquiries to the hospital's management.
Confirming the incident, the Lafenwa Divisional Police Officer stated that the protesters were aggrieved by various issues, including restrictions on seeing their relatives and limited mobility within the facility. The police intervened following approval from the Commissioner of Police to restore order and ensure the safety of both patients and staff.
