The Nigeria Police Force has rejected a report by Amnesty International that accused it of extrajudicial killings during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The police described the report as false, misleading, and damaging to their reputation.
The report, titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,”* was released on November 28, 2024. It claimed that at least 24 people were killed by police in six northern states.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi announced that a special investigative panel had been set up to verify the claims. The panel, working with commissioners of police from the affected states, found the allegations to be inaccurate.
“Amnesty International is advised to ensure its reports are accurate and reflect a true and fair representation of events. Frequent false reporting undermines the integrity of such an organisation,” Adejobi said.
He added, “The Nigeria Police Force will write to demand a retraction of the report and a public apology. We remain committed to protecting the rights of all citizens while ensuring national security and stability.”
Adejobi detailed the panel’s findings, highlighting discrepancies in Amnesty’s claims:
Borno State: Amnesty alleged that police used grenades, killing three people at a filling station. Adejobi dismissed this, saying protesters looted and destroyed properties, including the United Nations Skill Acquisition Centre and the World Food Programme warehouse. “The claim of police throwing grenades is a blatant falsehood,” he stated.
Niger State: The report claimed three people were shot dead in Suleja. Police investigations found no evidence to support this claim.
Katsina State: Amnesty alleged a 21-year-old was killed. Adejobi stated that local sources confirmed no such incident occurred.
Kaduna State: Contrary to the report, Adejobi said there were no protests or police killings in Kaduna on October 1, 2024. Instead, an incident involving the Nigerian Army was openly investigated.
Jigawa State: Amnesty reported the deaths of two women and a man during protests. Police investigations revealed no such killings. Evidence showed a lone fatality caused by protester violence, not police action.
Kano State: Amnesty alleged 12 deaths in Kano due to police actions. Adejobi clarified that the deaths resulted from violent confrontations involving looters and criminals, not police activity.
Adejobi warned the public against accepting sensational reports designed to incite mistrust in law enforcement. “We urge Nigerians to rely on verified information and not be misled by inaccurate reports,” he said.
