The acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has directed that victims of gunshot wounds should be treated first before demanding Police report from them.
This directive was contained in a police internal memo signed by the Force Principal Staff Officer, Olatunji Disu and 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 was dated October 25, 2023.
According to the memo, the directives is in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
The Act, which came into effect on the eve of 2018, mandates all health facilities to accept victims of gunshot for immediate treatment without a police report.
The memo read, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of six persons by suspected kidnappers in the state.
The abduction comes barely a few days after the kidnapping of an inspector of police, Emmanuel Yaro, attached to the Kurmi Division.
Confirming the report, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abdullahi Usman, said they were abducted in the Pupule area of Yorro local government council.
He said the incident happened at about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, stating that the command is leaving no stone unturned to secure the release of the victims.
He said the anti-kidnapping and the strike force unit of the command, as well as vigilantes, are collaborating with hunters to track down the kidnappers.
He called on persons with useful information to reach out to the command or other sister security agencies.
Some persons from the community who spoke with DAILY POST said the kidnappers stormed the community when they were asleep.
They pleaded with the state government and the security agencies to monitor the local government council, which they said is gradually being taken over by bandits and kidnappers.
Citing the recent abduction of the son of a former chairman of the council, and the gruesome killing of a 15-year-old by rapists, they appealed for improved surveillance of the area.
They pleaded with the operatives to work round the clock to help rescue the victims who they described as the breadwinners of their families.