Treat Gunshot and Accident Victims With or Without Police Report – IGP Tells Doctors
– Orders Full Enforcement of Gunshot Victims Act 2017
In response to the ongoing concern over the tragic loss of lives due to the neglect of gunshot and accident victims, the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has issued a resounding call to all medical practitioners in Nigeria to treat gunshot and accident victims without police report.
This directive aligns with the full enforcement of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act of 2017, which mandates that all healthcare providers prioritize the immediate care and stabilization of such patients, recognizing the critical importance of timely medical attention in saving lives.
The IGPs decision responds to the relentless outcry from concerned citizens and the broader community, highlighting the tragic consequences of delays in treating these victims. The IGP underscores the moral duty and responsibility of medical practitioners to treat gunshot and accident victims without police report, bridging the gap between law enforcement agencies and healthcare providers, and ensuring a more efficient and compassionate response to emergency situations, and curbing crimes by fulfilling their obligation to invite the Police for assessment while treatment is ongoing.
The Inspector-General calls on all medical institutions and professionals to adhere to these directives and fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies when necessary, emphasizing the paramount importance of saving lives and promoting a safer and healthier society. The Nigeria Police will collaborate with all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, particularly the Federal Ministry of Health for the full enforcement of the provisions of the Act.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, FCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA
28TH OCTOBER 2023
