Former president of the Senate,Dr Bukola Saraki has reacted to the Inspector General of Police IGP ‘s order to medical institutions to treat gunshot and accident victims without asking for police permit.
Taking to his verified X handle,Saraki wrote
“I am delighted to see that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has directed medical personnel across the country to treat gunshot victims without asking for a police report. This policy is based on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, which we passed in the 8th Senate to save lives. The IGP’s directive was contained in an internal memo dated October 25, 2023.
“I hope that this new directive, backed by the full weight of the Gunshot Victims Act, will ensure that Nigerians who are shot or injured receive prompt medical attention in hospitals across the nation. This will put an end to the age-long practice of denying medical care to gunshot victims, which has cost us thousands of dear lives.
“It is also a victory for the memory of Linda Igwetu, the youth corps member who was shot and killed by a policeman in 2018. I remember calling Linda’s family after she died and I promised them that we would work to make sure that her death was not in vain. With this new policy by the IGP, the nation has taken a major step towards fulfilling that promise.
“I want to thank the IGP for doing what should have been done years ago. This is a victory for the memory of Linda; this is a victory for all Nigerians.”
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Recall that the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 was passed by the 8th Senate under Saraki ‘s leadership.
Request by medical institutions for police permit before treatment of gunshot victims have sent many to early grave.
On September 27,2023, a video of a lady identified as Greatness Olurunfemi went viral on social media captured along the Maitaima Kubwa Expressway after being pushed out of a moving vehicle.
She died at the Maitaima General Hospital after she was reportedly denied treatment following failure to present a police report.
The refusal of medical centers to treat gunshot victims is linked to the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisional Law ( 1990) which states that it shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits,treats or administers any drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report to the police.
According to the law,any person who does otherwise will be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and in the case of a hospital,or clinic,to a fine of N10,000 while the hospital or clinic would be closed .
