IGP orders hospitals to treat gunshot victims without police report

Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has ordered compulsory treatment of gunshot victims without police report, according to a police internal memo signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu.

The memo dated October 25, 2023, was addressed to all Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police and the Commandants of Police Colleges in Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji-River, Maiduguri and Enugu.

The directive, Egbetokun said, was in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.

The Act, which came into effect on the eve of 2018, mandates all health facilities to accept victims of gunshot for immediate treatment without a police report.

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The memo read, “I forward herewith a copy of letter HMSH&SW/IG/CTCV/ 10/2023 dated 3rd October 2023 received from Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare on the above-underlined subject, and write to convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you comply with and enforce the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 without any hesitation.

“The Inspector-General of Police further directs that you make this a subject of lecture and circulate widely for the members of the public to be aware of our compliance with the National Law.”

In the attached letter from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State, Olatunji Alausa, had called the police boss’ attention to the low compliance with the provision of the law which he attributed to poor awareness among policemen and sympathizers who may fear being implicated.