Assault cases in Maiduguri metropolis: A comparative study of police and accident and emergency units' records.

Background: Information on the incidence of assault cases such as armed robbery, fights and house burglaries in most Nigerian cities are usually based on data collected from police records with little or no attempt to tap medical sources of information.

Objective: The aim of this study was therefore to compare the rate of recording of assault cases in the Maiduguri metropolitan area by the police at the Maiduguri central police station and the Accident and Emergency unit (A and E) of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Possible reasons why assault victims report or do not report to the police before seeking for treatment was also investigated.