The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has given a mandatory order for the treatment of gunshot victims without waiting for a police report.
The IGP gave the directive in a written internal letter signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu, dated October 25, 2023.
The letter was sent to the commandants of the police colleges in Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji-River, Maiduguri, and Enugu, as well as to all deputy inspectors general and assistant inspectors general of police.
According to the IGP, the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act of 2017 is in compliance with the instruction to treat gunshot victims without a police report.
He claims that the Act, which went into effect on New Year’s Eve 2018, requires all medical facilities to admit gunshot victims for treatment right away without requiring a police complaint.
“I forward herewith a copy of the letter HMSH&SW/IG/CTCV/10/2023 dated October 3, 2023, received from the 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.”
The Minister of State, Olatunji Alausa, and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had alerted the IGP to the poor act compliance in the letter that was attached.
Alausa blamed low awareness among police officers and supporters who might be afraid of being implicated for the low compliance with the law’s provisions.