Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of Nigeria Police Force has urged medical personnel in and around the nation’s capital, Abuja, to treat gunshot patients according to the law, especially those in Lugbe area of the territory, but however, report the patients to the command.

It was gathered that on Thursday night during the economic hardship protest, hoodlums around Lugbe road leading to the airport took advantage of the ongoing protest to rob and assault innocent citizens, which led to exchange of fire between police operatives and the hoodlums.

A resident under condition of anonymity confirmed that it extended to FHA down to filling station around Shoprite. That it took the intervention of the security agencies to rescue a lady from being raped yesterday, she got home in Piwoyi, Lugbe after 12am.

In a statement issue to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh was quoted as saying: “Following distress calls on the activities of some hoodlums who took advantage of the ongoing protests which began on Thursday 1st August, 2024, to block the Lugbe end of the Shehu Musa Yaradua Expressway at about 10pm, embarked on a massive robbery and assault of innocent citizens, which led to an exchange of fire with police operatives in 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.

“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 in order 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 hospital or health care facility should be informed to interview such patient so as to ascertain their person/roles in the prevailing security situation in the FCT.

“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 vandalization 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 Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, 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,” he said. (Nigerian Tribune)

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