Photo Illustration: Policemen On Duty 

After a shootout between hoodlums and police personnel on Thursday evening, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has called on medical personnel to report anyone with gunshot wounds to the police.

The command, in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, communicated this development.

According to the command, it had engaged some hoodlums in a fierce gun duel with many of them escaping with gunshot injuries.

It was noted that the hoodlums had taken advantage of the ongoing hunger protests to embark on massive extortion and assault on citizens along the Lugbe end of the FCT.

Adeh said, ”Following distress calls on the activities of some hoodlums who took advantage of the ongoing protests which began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, to block the Lugbe end of the Shehu Musa Yaradua Expressway at about 10 pm, embarked on a massive robbery and assault of innocent citizens which led to an exchange of fire with police operatives in the Lugbe area of Abuja.

“The FCT Command, hereby, puts all medical personnel in and around the Federal Capital Territory on high alert to the possibility of receiving victims with gunshot wounds.”

Adeh said the request of the command was in line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.

The spokesperson said, “In line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017, it is instructive to note that such patients come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention to save the life of the patient and should be accorded all necessary medical assistance.”

“However, the police division/formation within the jurisdiction of such a hospital or healthcare facility should be informed to interview such patients to ascertain their person/roles in the prevailing security situation in the FCT.”

Adeh said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, noted that protesters should not commit crimes under the guise of protest.

She said, “The Commissioner of Police hereby warns unscrupulous elements who may want to hide under the guise of protest to carry out heinous crimes such as armed robbery, shop breaking, rape, assault on innocent citizens and vandalisation of public property to desist from such as police officers and other security agents have been put on red alert to curtail them and maintain law and order.”

The police boss while “appreciating residents of the FCT for their continuous cooperation, assures that all relevant measures will be emplaced to ensure that the current protests do not infringe on their fundamental rights or cause them losses or damage to their property.” the statement read.

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