Acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has directed medical personnel nationwide to treat gunshot victims without reporting to the police.
According to Egbetokun, this directive was required under the 2017 Compulsory Treatment and Care of Gunshot Victims Act.
In an internal police memorandum dated October 25, 2023, addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, and all Commanders of Police Colleges in Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji River, Maiduguri, and Enugu, he asked that it be circulated widely so that the general public is aware that they are in compliance with national law.
He then stated as follows;
‘I am hereby forwarding a copy of the letter HMSH&SW/IG/CTCV/ 10/2023 received from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the above underlined matter dated October 3, 2023, to convey the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you do not hesitate to comply with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Gunshot Wound Victims Act, 2017 I write to inform you that I will comply with and enforce the same.
The Inspector General of Police further directs that this matter be made the subject of a lecture and widely disseminated so that the public is aware of our compliance with our national laws.”
