Humiliated, Slapped, and Forced to Kneel for Hours: Kwara Nurse Recounts Assault by Senior CHEW
Ilorin, Kwara State – September 13, 2025 – In a distressing account that highlights ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s rural healthcare system, a registered nurse has come forward with allegations of severe workplace harassment and physical assault by her superiors, prompting calls for accountability and reform.
Nurse Rufus Favour Mojisola, the only registered nurse at Ekan Primary Health Centre in Oke Ero Local Government Area, detailed her experiences in a formal petition to the Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM). Stationed in a remote village where she resides alone among staff, Mojisola has been managing critical services, including family planning and routine immunizations, amid significant resource shortages and an unbalanced workload.
According to the petition, the alleged mistreatment stemmed from professional jealousy involving the facility’s Officer in Charge (OIC), Mrs. Ayinde Risikat, a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), and the Head of Department (HOD) of Health, Mrs. Helen Bosede Olawuyi, also a CHEW. Mojisola claims that on September 9, 2025, she was compelled to kneel in her uniform for two hours in the HOD’s office as a form of humiliation, followed by a slap from Mrs. Olawuyi. The next day, September 10, she reportedly endured another slap in the Local Government Chairman’s office.
Compounding the physical assaults, Mojisola described a pattern of verbal abuse during immunization sessions on dates including April 8, May 6, June 17, and July 8, 2025. The OIC allegedly berated her publicly in front of patients, using derogatory terms such as “lazy and proud” and even invoking curses, suggesting she would “not be useful to her parents.” In one particularly alarming claim, the OIC purportedly threatened to orchestrate errors that could result in severe adverse effects for immunized children, such as amputations, to diminish Mojisola’s standing as a nurse.
The nurse also raised serious concerns about substandard practices at the centre, including the lack of essential equipment like an autoclave for sterilization. She reported instances of syringes being reused after mere rinsing with water and the OIC using nylon gloves for deliveries—practices she attempted to address, only to be met with accusations of arrogance. Furthermore, Mojisola alleged being assigned menial tasks, such as sweeping the clinic, despite the availability of an attendant, while a record officer maintained inconsistent hours, leaving her to handle additional administrative duties.
The situation escalated with the issuance of a query letter containing 11 unsubstantiated charges and a transfer to a distant facility notorious for security risks, including kidnappings. Mojisola noted that a Community Health Officer posted alongside her was transferred in April without replacement, further intensifying her isolation and responsibilities.
In her appeal to NANNM, Mojisola urged immediate action to safeguard her professional rights and address the alleged misconduct. “I seek urgent intervention to ensure that my rights as a Registered Nurse are protected and that appropriate actions are taken against those who have acted unprofessionally and abusively towards me,” she stated in the petition.
This incident, reported by outlets including Sahara Reporters, underscores broader issues of inter-professional dynamics, resource deficiencies, and safety in Nigeria’s primary healthcare facilities. Fellow Nurses Africa stands in solidarity with nursing professionals facing such adversities and will follow NANNM’s response closely, advocating for systemic changes to protect frontline workers across the continent.
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