Police Reject Amnesty’s #EndBadGovernance Protest Killings Claims, Demand Retraction, Apology

Kehinde Fajobi

The Nigeria Police Force has rejected allegations by Amnesty International accusing it of extrajudicial killings during protests, calling the claims false, misleading, and damaging to its reputation.

The Amnesty report, titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” alleged that police actions resulted in at least 24 deaths across six northern states.

However, at a press briefing on Sunday, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi dismissed the claims, stating that a special investigative panel, working with commissioners of police from the affected states, had reviewed the allegations and found them to be baseless.

“Amnesty International is advised to reflect on its frequent false reporting on Nigeria’s law enforcement activities and ensure its reports are accurate and contain a true and fair representation of events affecting national security and public safety.

“Accurate reporting of facts is essential to the integrity of any international organisation, and Amnesty International should not be an exception,” Adejobi said.

He further announced that the police would demand a retraction of the report and a public apology.

“The Nigeria Police Force will, in due course, write to Amnesty International to demand the retraction of this report from the public domain along with a public apology.

“We remain resolute in protecting the rights of all citizens while ensuring the security and stability of the nation. We urge the public to be wary of sensational reports designed to incite mistrust and weaken confidence in law enforcement institutions,” Adejobi added.

In Borno, the report alleged police threw grenades into a filling station, killing three people. Adejobi debunked this, stating, “In Borno State, it was established that the protesters were violent, engaging in widespread looting, pillaging, and wanton destruction of public and private property.”

He cited incidents where protesters looted the Skill Acquisition Centre of the UNHCR and the World Food Programme warehouse in Maiduguri.

“The claim that the police threw a hand grenade is a blatant falsehood,” he added.

In Niger State, the report alleged three deaths in Suleja. Adejobi said this claim was disproven by police investigations.

Regarding Katsina, Amnesty claimed police killed a 21-year-old protester. Adejobi said local sources confirmed no such incident occurred.

In Kaduna, Amnesty alleged police killed protesters on October 1, 2024. Adejobi refuted this, stating no protests or police killings took place. Instead, he noted an unrelated incident involving the Nigerian Army was identified and investigated.

In Jigawa, the report alleged police killed three protesters. Adejobi clarified that the sole fatality resulted from violence among protesters, not police actions.

In Kano, Amnesty reported 12 deaths caused by police.

Adejobi countered, “Investigations indicated these deaths resulted from violent confrontations involving looters and criminals, not police activity.”

Adejobi reiterated that Amnesty International’s allegations lacked credibility and failed to align with international standards for reporting human rights violations.