Odita Sunday 
Odita Sunday
In a renewed push to tackle the growing menace of unlicensed medical practice, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has pledged strong collaboration with healthcare professionals to clamp down on quackery across Nigeria.
The police chief made the commitment while hosting a high-level delegation of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where both sides agreed on the need for urgent action to safeguard public health.
The delegation, led by NANNM National President, Haruna Mamman, raised alarm over the increasing spread of unlicensed medical practitioners, warning that the trend poses serious risks to patients and undermines the integrity of the healthcare system.
Mamman urged the Nigeria Police Force to step in decisively, noting that many unsuspecting Nigerians continue to fall victim to fake clinics and unqualified operators.
Responding, the IGP assured the association of the Force’s readiness to support efforts aimed at eliminating quackery, stressing that protecting lives remains a core mandate of the police.
He drew parallels between policing and the nursing profession, describing both as callings rooted in service, compassion, and resilience, especially in moments when citizens are most vulnerable.
The meeting, attended by senior police officers, including the Director of Force Medical Services, as well as top NANNM executives, also explored avenues for deeper inter-agency collaboration.
As part of the proposed strategy, Disu called for the establishment of a seamless communication channel between the police and the association to enable intelligence sharing and coordinated operations against illegal medical practitioners.
He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening public trust and ensuring citizen safety, noting that closer collaboration between security agencies and healthcare professionals is critical to addressing emerging threats within the sector.
The engagement marks a significant step toward a coordinated national response to quackery, with both institutions signalling readiness to work together to protect lives and uphold professional standards.
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