Olukayode Egbetokun, the acting Inspector General of Police, has urged medical staff across the country to treat gunshot victims without requesting a Police report.
Egbetokun gave the injunction while encouraging health personnel to raise awareness of the issue among Nigerians.
The IGP’s directive was included in a Police internal letter dated October 25, 2023, and signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu, and was based on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017.
All Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and Commandants of Police Colleges in Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji-River, Maiduguri, and Enugu received the memo.
According to the memo:
“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.”
cc: Daily Post Ng
