Monday Reuben, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Nigeria Police Force has strongly refuted allegations by Amnesty International, which accused the police of extrajudicial killings during the #EndBadGovernance protests. In its November 28, 2024, report titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” Amnesty International alleged that at least 24 people were killed in six northern states by the police during the protests.
However, during a press briefing on Sunday, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi dismissed the report as false, misleading, and harmful to the reputation of the police. Adejobi stated that a special investigative panel, in collaboration with state commissioners of police, had conducted thorough investigations that debunked Amnesty’s claims.
Adejobi disclosed that the panel’s findings contradicted Amnesty International’s allegations, highlighting inaccuracies in the report. He urged the organization to uphold its integrity by ensuring accurate and fair reporting.
“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,” Adejobi said.
He further revealed that the police would demand a retraction and a public apology from Amnesty International, stressing the importance of public confidence in law enforcement.
“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,” he stated.
Adejobi provided a state-by-state breakdown of the allegations, refuting claims of police misconduct:
Borno State: Amnesty reported that police threw a grenade into a filling station, killing three people. Adejobi countered this, stating that protesters in Borno engaged in violent looting and destruction, including vandalizing the UNHCR’s Skill Acquisition Centre and looting the World Food Programme warehouse. He described the grenade allegation as a "blatant falsehood."
Niger State: Amnesty claimed three individuals were shot dead in Suleja. Police findings debunked this claim as baseless.
Katsina State: Amnesty alleged that a 21-year-old was killed during protests. Adejobi stated that investigations, corroborated by local sources, revealed no such incident occurred.
Kaduna State: Contrary to Amnesty’s report of police killings during October 1, 2024, protests, Adejobi clarified that no protests or police killings occurred in the state on that date. Instead, a separate incident involving the Nigerian Army was identified.
Jigawa State: Amnesty reported the deaths of two women and a man during protests. Police investigations revealed only one fatality caused by violence among protesters, not police action.
Kano State: Amnesty alleged that 12 people died due to police actions. Adejobi stated that these deaths were linked to violent confrontations involving looters and criminals, not the police.
Adejobi urged the public to be cautious of sensational reports designed to erode trust in law enforcement institutions. He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights while ensuring national security and stability.
This development adds to the ongoing discourse on the conduct of Nigeria’s security agencies during civil protests and the role of international organizations in reporting human rights issues. The public awaits Amnesty International’s response to the police demands for a retraction and apology.
