The Nigeria Police Force has vehemently rejected the claims made by Amnesty International regarding the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
The international organization had previously alleged that the Nigerian government, through its security agencies, was responsible for the deaths of at least twenty-four individuals across six northern states during the protests.
In a media briefing on Sunday, Police Spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that these allegations were false and contradicted verified records from the police. According to ACP Adejobi, the police had diligently documented all incidents of violence during the protests, which spanned all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He emphasized that Amnesty International’s report, titled “Bloody August,” was misleading and presented unfounded claims.
Investigative Findings Dispute Amnesty’s Allegations
The police spokesperson further explained that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, had ordered a comprehensive and independent investigation into the allegations. As part of the investigation, a special panel was constituted and tasked with gathering evidence from the states mentioned in the report. Additionally, the Commissioners of Police in those areas were instructed to verify the claims and submit their findings.
ACP Adejobi outlined several key findings from the police investigation, which contradicted Amnesty International’s allegations. For instance, in Borno State, the police found that three fuel attendants, previously claimed to have been killed by a police hand grenade, were actually victims of an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by unknown persons. The police also discovered evidence of extensive looting and destruction of public property by protesters. These findings were in stark contrast to Amnesty International’s report, which suggested police brutality.
In Niger State, Amnesty International had alleged that three protesters were killed by police during the protests. However, ACP Adejobi revealed that the claim was based on an unverified and disputed report from Premium Times. The police investigation found no such fatalities, with reliable sources confirming that no deaths occurred in the state on August 1, 2024.
Police Deny Excessive Force Claims and Criticize Amnesty’s Reporting
Similarly, in Katsina and Kaduna States, Amnesty’s claims of police killings were disproven. The police in Katsina found no record of any deaths on the date mentioned, while in Kaduna, the alleged killing of a tailor by police was found to be a misrepresentation of events. ACP Adejobi clarified that the incident actually involved a military patrol that had mistakenly shot a youth during a protest.
In Jigawa State, Amnesty International had reported that two women were killed by police. However, the police found that one of the alleged victims died after being injured by protesters during violent clashes. The other death, ACP Adejobi noted, was completely unsubstantiated.
In Kano, Amnesty International claimed that twelve protesters were killed by police between August 1 and 3, 2024. However, the police investigation found that these deaths were unrelated to police action and were instead caused by clashes between protesters and looters.
The police spokesperson strongly denied allegations of excessive force during the protests, stating that the police responded to violence with minimum force in accordance with legal standards. He emphasized that the police were committed to ensuring the safety of peaceful protesters while preventing the hijacking of demonstrations by criminal elements. ACP Adejobi also clarified that the police did not use firearms to disperse protesters, except when necessary to protect lives and property.
Addressing Amnesty International’s reporting methods, ACP Adejobi criticized the organization for publishing unverified and sensationalized claims. He urged Amnesty to adhere to ethical reporting standards and seek confirmation from local authorities before releasing such serious allegations.
The Police Force concluded by stating that it would formally demand a retraction and public apology from Amnesty International for the inaccuracies in its report. The Force reiterated its commitment to upholding human rights and maintaining law and order, stressing that such misleading reports could undermine public trust in law enforcement institutions.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its resolve to protect citizens’ rights while ensuring national security, ACP Adejobi affirmed.
