The acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the compulsory treatment of gunshot victims without police report.
The IGP directive was contained in a police internal memo signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu, on October 25, 2023.
The memo 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 IGP stated that the directive was in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
“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 memo said.
“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,” it said.
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.
Meanwhile, a copy of the document obtained by our correspondent reveals that the Act, titled Compulsory Treatment And Care for Victims of Gunshots Act, 2017, was enacted by the National Assembly and was scheduled to commence on 20th December, 2017.
“As from the commencement of this Act, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive, for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance, any person with gunshot wound,” part of the Act reads.
“Every person, including security agents, shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.
“Accordingly, a person with gunshot wound shall be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without initial monetary deposit, and any person with a gunshot wound shall not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authority including the police or other security agencies,” it says.
Recall that The Nigerian Observer had last weekend reported that a private hospital in Benin allegedly delayed treatment of a vigilante member accidentally shot by his colleague due to lack of police report.
The gunshot victim, Cyril Igiebor, 28, reportedly died few hours later while being taken to a government-owned hospital in Benin City.
However, the said private hospital denied the allegation when our correspondent visited to fact check.
