IGP urges hospitals to treat gunshot victims without police reports - Premium Times Nigeria

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers to desist from denying or delaying medical attention to victims of gunshot wounds on account of police procedures.

Mr Disu said no victim should be subjected to harassment or denied immediate medical care, stressing that saving lives must take precedence over paperwork.

He stated this on Thursday at the launch of a campaign to promote immediate medical treatment for victims of gunshot injuries in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, which mandates hospitals to treat gunshot victims regardless of whether they present police reports.

The campaign, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was launched in Abuja.

It aims to familiarise Nigerians with the provisions of the law and ensure that victims of gunshot injuries receive prompt medical attention without being required to obtain police reports before treatment.

Represented at the event by Aremu Bamidele, the Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Disu assured Nigerians of the force’s commitment to implementing the law and protecting victims of gunshot wounds.

“The Nigerian Police Force remains fully committed to the faithful implementation of this law. We have consistently directed our officers that no victim of gunshot injury shall be subjected to harassment, delay or denial of medical care on account of police procedure.

“Saving lives must take precedence over paperwork and protection of the victim remains the overriding priority. This campaign is therefore timely and aligns with the renewed commitment of the force to professionalism, community partnership and respect for human rights in the discharge of our constitutional mandate under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020,” he said.

He also pledged continued collaboration with medical practitioners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that victims of gunshot injuries receive prompt medical attention, irrespective of whether they have police reports.

“I assure you of the continued collaboration of the Nigerian Police Force with medical practitioners, civil society and all stakeholders to ensure that no Nigerian dies from a preventable gunshot injury due to fear, ignorance or bureaucratic delay,” he added.

The Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said delays in providing medical attention to victims of gunshot wounds had persisted despite the law prohibiting such practices, largely due to misconceptions and fears about possible legal implications.

Mr Issa-Onilu stressed that victims must receive immediate medical attention, regardless of whether they have police reports, as stipulated by the law.

“Every delay can have consequences, yet over the years, misconceptions, fear of legal or police complications and uncertainty about the responsibility of the hospitals and other stakeholders have sometimes created barriers to timely treatment,” he said.

Represented by Ayoola Olufemi, the NOA director of Health and Social Care, the director-general urged security agencies, healthcare providers and other relevant authorities to prioritise saving lives over bureaucratic procedures.

He also called on members of the public to assist victims of gunshot wounds in accessing the nearest hospital whenever they encounter them.

“The responsibility for making this principle a reality does not rest with the hospital alone. Security agencies, healthcare professionals and relevant institutions all have important roles to play.

“When an injured person is brought to the hospital, the priority should be providing necessary emergency care. When members of the public encounter a victim, they should be ready to assist in facilitating medical attention rather than allow misconceptions to prevent them from acting,” he said.

The Deputy Head of Delegation of the ICRC, James Matthews, also urged security agencies, healthcare practitioners and other stakeholders to sustain advocacy for the prompt treatment of gunshot injuries to prevent avoidable deaths.

Mr Matthews called on Nigerians to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the law and assist victims of gunshot wounds in accessing the nearest medical facility whenever they encounter them.

The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act, 2017, was enacted to prevent avoidable deaths arising from delays or refusal of medical treatment for victims of gunshot wounds.

Signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2017, the legislation requires all public and private hospitals in Nigeria to admit and provide immediate and adequate medical treatment to victims of gunshot injuries, regardless of whether they have police reports or clearance.

Specifically, Section 1 of the Act establishes the right of gunshot victims to immediate medical attention, while Section 2 places a responsibility on everyone, including security personnel, to assist victims and ensure they are taken to the nearest hospital.

It also stipulates that treatment must not be made conditional on an initial monetary deposit and prohibits subjecting victims to torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.

The law also provides a framework for police investigations without compromising victims’ access to emergency medical care. Under Section 3, hospitals are required to notify the nearest police station within two hours of commencing treatment, after which the police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Section 4 further provides that police officers must not invite victims from hospitals for questioning unless the Chief Medical Director certifies that they are medically fit and no longer in dire need of medical care.

The Act also prescribes penalties for violations of its provisions. Under Section 11, any person or authority, including a police officer, security agent or hospital, whose failure to perform their statutory duties results in the unnecessary death of a gunshot victim is liable, upon conviction, to a fine of N500,000, imprisonment for five years or both.

Additionally, hospitals are required to notify the victim’s family or relations within 24 hours of establishing the victim’s identity and maintain adequate records of treatment.