This report has been fact-checked and found to be false. Retract your inaccurate report on k!lling of #EndBadGovernance protesters – Police tells Amnesty

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has called on Amnesty International to retract its report on the alleged killing of #EndBadGovernance protesters, describing the report as “inaccurate and misleading.”

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, addressed the findings in Amnesty International’s November 2024 report titled ‘Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protests.’ The report claimed that at least 24 protesters were killed during the August nationwide demonstrations, 1,200 protesters were arrested, and authorities perpetrated “acts of torture and other ill-treatment.”

Adejobi stated, “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.”

The protests, which lasted for 10 days in August, were marred by violence in several states, with incidents of police deploying teargas against demonstrators and journalists in cities such as Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna. Reports of looting and vandalism were also noted in some northern states.

After the publication of the report, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered a “comprehensive investigation into the claims.” According to Adejobi, a special investigation panel was constituted to review the allegations. The panel visited affected states and considered reports submitted by commissioners of police, with its findings forming the basis of Sunday’s briefing.

Adejobi refuted specific claims made in Amnesty International’s report. He denied allegations that police officers used a hand grenade to kill Nasiru Mustapha, Amodu Garba Maina, and Momodu Hassan, who were petrol attendants at Kime and Sons filling station. “The petrol attendants were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted at the filling station,” he said.

The spokesperson also addressed the case of Shafiu Mukhtar, whom Amnesty International alleged was shot dead by police in Katsina State on August 5, 2024. “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,” Adejobi said.

In another instance, Amnesty International alleged that police in Kaduna State killed Abubakar Adamu Abdullahi, a 24-year-old tailor, on October 1, 2024. Adejobi countered this claim, stating, “From verified records, there was no protest in Kaduna on that date, nor was there any killing recorded.”

He added that during protests on August 6, 2024, in Zaria, Kaduna State, a military patrol encountered 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.”

Adejobi accused Amnesty International of engaging in frequent false reporting and advised the organization to reassess its methodology. “Amnesty International is advised to have retrospection on its frequently false reporting on Nigeria’s law enforcement activities and reflect on its reporting methodology, ensuring that its reports are accurate and contain a true and fair expression of events that touch on national security and the safety of all Nigerians.”

He concluded by stating that the Nigeria Police Force would formally request Amnesty International to retract the report from public circulation and issue a public apology. “The Nigeria Police Force will in due time be writing Amnesty International to demand a retraction of this report from the public space and with a public apology,” Adejobi said.