Police to Amnesty: Retract your inaccurate report on killing of #EndBadGovernance protesters

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has asked Amnesty International to retract its report on the killing of #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the report released by Amnesty International is “inaccurate and misleading”.

THE REPORT

In November 2024, Amnesty published a report titled: ‘Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protests’.

In the report, the organisation said at least 24 protesters were killed during the August nationwide protests.

The global human rights organisation said 1,200 protesters were arrested during the demonstration.

The organisation added that Nigerian authorities perpetrated “acts of torture and other ill-treatment against protesters”.

The protest against pervasive hardship in the country lasted for 10 days in August and turned violent in certain states — with police shooting teargas at demonstrators and journalists in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna, among others.

There were also reported cases of looting and vandalism in some northern states.

After the report was published, NPF said Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police,  ordered “comprehensive investigation into the claims”.

‘PUBLIC APOLOGY NEEDED’

Speaking during the briefing, Adejobi said the IGP had constituted a special investigation panel to investigate the “claims” made by Amnesty International.

The force spokesperson said members of the panel visited the affected states and considered the reports submitted by commissioners of police.

He added that the findings of the panel formed the crux of his media briefing.

Adejobi denied the allegations that police officers killed the trio of Nasiru Mustapha, Amodu Garba Maina, and Momodu Hassan, who were staff of Kime and Sons filling station, with a hand grenade.

The force spokesperson said the petrol attendants were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted at the filling station.

“In Katsina State, Amnesty International alleged that one Shafiu Mukhtar of Filin Sanyi Kofar, Sauri, Katsina, aged 21, was shot dead by the police on 5th August, 2024,” Adejobi said.

“This report has been fact-checked and found to be false. Reliable sources confirmed to the verification team that there was no report of any killing in the community on that day.

“There are also no records in police stations or hospitals of such an incident.

“Amnesty International’s report claimed that on 1st October, 2024, the police in Kaduna State killed one Abubakar Adamu Abdullahi, a 24-year-old tailor, by shooting him in the chest.

“However, from verified records, there was no protest in Kaduna on that date, nor was there any killing recorded.

“Instead, on 6th August, 2024, during the protests, a military patrol at Samaru, Zaria, accosted some youths vandalizing public property.

“In the process of firing a warning shot, one Ismail Mohammed was accidentally hit by a bullet and died on the way to the hospital.

“The Nigerian Army immediately took responsibility for this incident, conducting an open investigation, arresting the soldier responsible, and visiting the family of the deceased.

“Amnesty International’s report on this incident is a misrepresentation.

“The Nigeria Police Force categorically denies the allegations of excessive use of force as claimed by Amnesty International as these claims are false, misleading, and an unfair misrepresentation of the actions and conduct of our officers.

“Amnesty International is advised to have retrospection on its frequently false reporting on Nigerian’s law enforcement activities and reflect on its reporting methodology, by ensuring that its reports are accurate and contains true and fair expression of events that touches on National Security and safety of all Nigerians.

“The Nigeria Police Force will in due time be writing the Amnesty International to demand for a retraction of this report from the public space and with a public apology.”