When Healers Are Hunted: Nigeria’s Healthcare Workers Under Siege

In the last few days into the new year, 2026, our healers have been killed.

Dr. Andrew Orovwigho —a vibrant Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
My colleague. My friend Andrew was kidnapped in front of his own home.
Shot.
Released.
Then shot again, just to send a message.
Dumped in the bush.
A good Samaritan rushed him to hospital.
He didn’t survive.

Then there’s Dr. Emhoye, kidnapped alongside his brother in Auchi, Edo State. Both doctors.
While trying to escape, he was killed and dumped by a river.

And Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, who closed from duty at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja and never made it home.
Taken by “one-chance” criminals.
Her body found by the roadside.

Let that sink in.

Doctors are being hunted.
Nurses are being killed.
Healthcare workers are no longer unsafe, they are targets.

This is not coincidence.
This is not isolated.
This is a national emergency.

A country that cannot protect its healers, is a country in deep crisis.
Because when doctors and nurses are not safe, no one truly is.

Enough condolences.
Enough numbness.
Enough scrolling.

To policymakers:
Protect lives, or admit failure.

To Nigerians:
Refuse silence. Demand safety.

To those planning to leave: No one blames you, this is survival.

To everyone:
Speak. Share. Remember their names.

This is not politics.
This is life and death.

May their souls rest in peace.
And may we never become so desensitised that we stop asking hard questions.

Share this. Silence protects no one.

Comment if healthcare workers deserve safety.

Tag leaders. Demand action.

I AM DR. MAY
Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri (Dr.May)
Founder Pinnacle Medical Services & HowBodi
www.drmaymunah.com