Osun Assembly Passes Life-Saving Gunshot Victims Bill, Ends ‘Police Report First’ Policy

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Osun State House of Assembly has passed a landmark bill that mandates immediate treatment of gunshot victims without a police report or advance payment — a move widely hailed as life-saving and protective of health workers.

The Osun State Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Bill, 2025, was passed on October 21 and is now awaiting Governor Ademola Adeleke’s assent.

Speaking on the development, Hon. Abiola Awoyeye, representing Ife Central, said the bill will prevent avoidable deaths and shield hospitals from harassment or prosecution while attending to emergency cases.

Awoyeye stressed that the legislation dismantles bureaucratic barriers that have led to countless fatalities.

“Every human life, regardless of the circumstances, deserves a fair chance to survive. That is the spirit behind this bill,” he said.

He added that the law will end the long-standing practice of hospitals rejecting gunshot victims out of fear of police victimisation.

Medical practitioners and civic observers across the state have applauded the Assembly’s action, describing it as proof of a responsive government that prioritises human welfare and safety.

With its passage, Osun joins other states adopting modern emergency response laws. The bill complements recent legislative interventions, including the Sports Commission Establishment Bill, the Start-up Bill, and the Communal Crisis Management and Peacebuilding Bill.

Once signed by Governor Adeleke, the bill will immediately compel all hospitals — public and private — to treat gunshot victims without delay or legal hesitation.