TheCable

Olukayode Egbetokun, the acting inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered the compulsory treatment of gunshot victims without a police report.

According to PUNCH, the directive was contained in a police internal memo signed by Olatunji Disu, the force principal staff officer.

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.

Egbetokun said the directive was in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.

The Act mandates all health facilities to accept victims of gunshot for immediate treatment without a police report.

“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 memo reads.

“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 directive comes after the death of Greatness Olurunfemi, a robbery victim alleged to have been rejected by doctors who insisted on having a police report before treatment.