The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, has directed medical personnel across the country to treat gunshot victims without asking for Police report.

Egbetokun issued the directive while urging health workers to sensitize Nigerians about the issue.

The IGP’s directive, based on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, was contained in a Police internal memo dated October 25, 2023, and signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu.

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 memo reads, “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.”

lexylaw40:
Nice one.

Ikaeniyan0:
Good order. It's so painful how that young lady died at the hospital in Abuja.

GanagiBitrus:
This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber.
The police investigations and interrogations that will take place in that hospital may likely disrupt business for them.

This is the major concern of hospitals that police have to address. Unless police can compensate such hospitals for any loss of business.

mysticwarrior:
Even with this order most hospitals would still request for Police report before treating patients with gunshot wounds, this would be seen as applying precautive measures for their own safety.

GanagiBitrus:
This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber.
The police investigations and interrogations that will take place in that hospital may likely disrupt business for them.

This is the major concern of hospitals that police have to address. Unless police can compensate such hospitals for any loss of business.

JagabanB:

It's good to sound like u are siding with the hospital until u become a victim or someone close to u becomes a victim.
In Nigeria, we only complain when we are affected.
The police cañ't harrass a hospital.
But it's good u are making it an excuse now.

GanagiBitrus:

If you think this problem will be solved by mere Police statement that hospitals should treat gunshot wounds, then you are not being realistic.

Maybe you start by asking yourself why hospitals are reluctant to treat such patients.

This is not about Police harassment -routine Police investigations & interrogations in such cases usually disrupt the hospital business.
This is the major concern Police has to address in issuing such statements, else it will likely not work out the way they envisaged.

GanagiBitrus:
This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber.
The police investigations and interrogations that will take place in that hospital may likely disrupt business for them.

This is the major concern of hospitals that police have to address. Unless police can compensate such hospitals for any loss of business.

GanagiBitrus:
This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber.

officialwdhtv:


What happens in saner climes is that the hospital management informs the police discreetly while attending to the patient... this way, police are already aware and if possible be at the hospital to take note of what happened and exactly what led to the shooting...

GanagiBitrus:
This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber.
The police investigations and interrogations that will take place in that hospital may likely disrupt business for them.

This is the major concern of hospitals that police have to address. Unless police can compensate such hospitals for any loss of business.