IGP Mandates Treatment Of Gunshot Victims Without Police Reports

The acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has mandated the treatment of gunshot victims without police report.

Naija News reports that the police boss, gave the order in a police internal memo signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu, dated October 25, 2023.

In the memo 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 EnuguEnugu,  the IGP explained that the directive was in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.

According to him, 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.

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.”

This platform understands that in an attached letter from the Minstry of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State, Olatunji Alausa, had called the IGP’s attention to the low compliance of the act.

The minister attributed the low compliance to the provision of the law to poor awareness among policemen and sympathisers who may fear being implicated.