Police Deny Amnesty International’s #EndBadGovernance Protest Report, Demand Retraction and Apology

Nigeria’s police force rejects Amnesty International’s report on the #EndBadGovernance protests, calling for a retraction and formal apology over alleged inaccuracies.

The Nigeria Police Force has rejected allegations made by Amnesty International in its report, labeling the claims as false, misleading, and harmful to the force’s reputation.

The report, dated November 28, 2024, alleged that the police carried out extrajudicial killings during the protests and asserted that at least 24 individuals lost their lives across six northern states.

The report, entitled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” has been challenged by the police. They claim that their findings contradict the allegations made by Amnesty International.

During a press briefing on Sunday, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi announced that a special investigative panel has been formed to verify the claims.

He explained that the panel, working alongside commissioners of police from the affected states, carried out thorough investigations and assembled a detailed report outlining inaccuracies in Amnesty International’s allegations.

“Amnesty International should take the time to review its recurring inaccuracies in reporting on Nigeria’s law enforcement activities, ensuring that future reports accurately and fairly represent events impacting national security and public safety,” Adejobi stated. “Precise fact-reporting is crucial for maintaining the integrity of any international organization, including Amnesty International.”

He mentioned that the police would issue a letter requesting both a retraction of the report and a public apology for the purported inaccuracies.

Adejobi stated that the Nigeria Police Force plans to formally request a public retraction and apology from Amnesty International for their report. He emphasized the police’s commitment to safeguarding citizens’ rights while maintaining national security and stability. Additionally, he advised the public to approach sensational reports with caution, as they may be intended to foster distrust in law enforcement agencies.

Summarizing the police’s conclusions in Borno, Adejobi stated that contrary to the organization’s claims, the police did not use grenades.

He stated that in Borno State, evidence showed the protesters were violent and involved in extensive looting, pillaging, as well as indiscriminate destruction of both public and private property. For instance, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees’ Skill Acquisition Centre was subjected to vandalism and looting.

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The World Food Programme warehouse on Baga/Maimalari Barracks Road in Maiduguri was looted, resulting in the destruction and theft of numerous items belonging to the international organization by some protesters.

The assertion by Amnesty International that the police hurled a hand grenade from a convoy into a filling station, resulting in three deaths, is completely untrue. This misinformation leaves rational members of society appalled at the erroneous report from an international agency expected to adhere to global norms and standards for fair and honest reporting on human rights violations within the country.

In Niger State, Adejobi stated that police investigations disproved the claim that three people were shot dead in Suleja.

Adejobi stated that the alleged killing of a 21-year-old in Katsina was determined to be unsubstantiated, and local sources confirmed that no such incident took place.

Additionally in Kaduna State, Adejobi clarified that despite Amnesty International’s report, there were no protests on October 1, 2024, and no incidents of police killings were reported.

He stated that, instead, an incident involving the Nigerian Army was recognized and investigated openly.

Adejobi stated that Amnesty International claimed two women and a man were killed during protests in Jigawa. However, police investigations found no evidence of these deaths, indicating instead that the only fatality resulted from protester violence rather than any actions by the police.

In Kano State, Adejobi mentioned that the report claimed 12 deaths attributed to police actions. However, investigations revealed that these fatalities stemmed from violent encounters involving looters and criminals rather than any police activity.