Verified information reaching NewsClick Nigeria has it that the acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the compulsory treatment of gunshot victims nationwide without police report.
This directive was contained in a police internal memo signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu and obtained by NewsClick Nigeria on Friday.
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.
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.”
Recall that there had been reports of gunshot victims in critical conditions been abandoned or out rightly rejected by medical personnel for fear of been prosecuted should the victim die in their custody.
Of most recent was the unfortunate incident of September 26, 2023, where Ms Greatness Olorunfemi was attacked and ejected from a moving vehicle by armed robbers, and subsequently denied timely medical care at Maitama General Hospital due to the unavailability of a police report. Olorunfemi who was rushed into the hospital bleeding profusely later died hours after waiting endlessly for medical attention but received none.
See memo below:
