FMC Jalingo Says Accident Victim Received Timely Care Before Relatives Turned Violent

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo has debunked allegations of negligence in the treatment of a road accident victim, Khadija Babatatu, stating that she received immediate medical attention before her relatives assaulted a nurse and fled the hospital.

This was contained in an investigative report released on Saturday by the Head of the SERVICOM Unit, Dr. Aboki Philip, and obtained by our correspondent in Jalingo.

According to the report, the inquiry followed a petition from the patient's family accusing the hospital of leaving Babatatu unattended for over three hours. However, findings showed that the claims were false.

The report revealed that Babatatu arrived at the Accident and Emergency Unit around 2:50 p.m. on September 5, 2025, and was immediately registered under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS). Medical personnel promptly assessed her vital signs, conducted triage, prescribed medications and commenced nursing care. All available medications were administered by 3:18 p.m.

The SERVICOM report further explained that the patient's relatives were requested to purchase a few medications not available in the hospital pharmacy. While waiting for the items, a nursing officer briefly stepped away to attend to another emergency case.

It was at this point that one of the victim's relatives became agitated, insisting that the nurse must remain by the patient's side. Despite efforts to calm him, the relative turned hostile and physically assaulted the nurse on duty.

Hospital security and the SERVICOM Desk Officer immediately alerted the police. On learning that law enforcement had been contacted, the relatives reportedly fled the facility with the patient, later claiming they were abandoned without treatment—a claim the hospital described as "false and misleading."

"The investigation clearly shows that the patient received timely, appropriate and professional care. The assault on our staff was unwarranted, unacceptable and disruptive to clinical operations," the report stated.

The SERVICOM Unit also commended the assaulted nurse for demonstrating "exceptional emotional intelligence, composure and professionalism" during the incident.

Reacting to the development, the Head of Clinical Services at FMC Jalingo, Dr. Suleiman Kirim, reiterated the hospital's commitment to quality healthcare delivery and the safety of its personnel.

"FMC Jalingo remains fully committed to upholding professional standards, safeguarding our staff and saving lives. No form of violence against healthcare workers will be tolerated," he said.

He appealed to members of the public to cooperate with health workers, especially during emergencies when swift clinical decisions are required.